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Original Research | Nursing | Volume 15 Issue 7, July 2026 | Pages: 2230 - 2236 | India
Children's Voices of Hospitalization: A Descriptive Phenomenological Study Exploring the Lived Experiences of School-Age Children in a Private Paediatric Hospital in South India
Abstract: Background: Hospitalization is a significant life event that may influence the emotional, psychological, and social well-being of children. For school-age children, admission to a hospital involves separation from familiar surroundings, interruption of daily routines, exposure to medical procedures, and reduced interaction with peers. Although healthcare professionals primarily focus on diagnosis and treatment, understanding children's personal experiences during hospitalization is essential for providing holistic and child-centred care. Listening to children's voices provides valuable insights into their fears, needs, coping strategies, and perceptions of the hospital environment. Aim: The aim of this study was to explore and describe the lived experiences of hospitalization among school-age children admitted to a private paediatric hospital in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. Methods: A descriptive phenomenological study design was adopted. Ten school-age children aged 7-11 years who were hospitalized for 4-7 days were selected using purposive sampling from a private paediatric hospital. Data were collected through individual open-ended, semi-structured conversational interviews conducted by the researcher in Tamil and English. Children's drawings were used as an additional expressive method to facilitate communication of their experiences. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analysed using Colaizzi's seven-step phenomenological analysis method. Results: Four major themes emerged from the analysis: (1) Experiencing hospitalization as an unfamiliar and challenging environment, (2) Longing for connection with friends and family, (3) Finding personal comfort during hospitalization, and (4) Children's inner world reflected through drawings. Children described fear related to medical procedures, unfamiliar hospital surroundings, and night-time experiences. Participants expressed missing their friends, siblings, and normal childhood activities. Some children identified personal sources of comfort, including mobile phone use and relief from school-related responsibilities. Drawings reflected children's attachment to home, family, and positive experiences rather than hospital-related situations. Conclusion: Hospitalization is experienced by children as a complex event involving fear, separation, adjustment, and individual coping experiences. The findings emphasize the importance of recognizing children's emotional needs alongside physical care. Paediatric nurses should incorporate child-friendly communication, emotional support, opportunities for expression, and activities that maintain children's connection with their normal life experiences.
Keywords: Hospitalization, School-age children, Lived experiences, Descriptive phenomenology, Paediatric nursing, Child-centred care, Qualitative research
How to Cite?: Dr. Christy S. K., "Children's Voices of Hospitalization: A Descriptive Phenomenological Study Exploring the Lived Experiences of School-Age Children in a Private Paediatric Hospital in South India", Volume 15 Issue 7, July 2026, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 2230-2236, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR26725145819, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR26725145819