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Perceived Quality of Life and Health of Hospitalized Children

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Abstract

Objective

The purpose of the current study was to examine the impact of disease and hospitalization on children’s quality of life.

Method

Three measures were administered to 105 participants ranging in age from 6 to 15 years, from public hospitals in Castilla y Leon (Spain). Data were collected throughout 9 months. Measures were the Survey on Subjective Perception of Hospitalization and Hospital (CPSH), the quality of life survey KINDL, and the health survey SF-36. Internal consistency coefficients were acceptable for most of scales and subscales. Results indicated that children experience a decrease in their quality of life, mainly in daily living activities and psychological well being; that emotional states impact their quality of life, and that hospitals need to make some changes to better meet the needs of hospitalized children.

Conclusions

Interventions, at an organizational and individual level, may help improve the well-being of hospitalized children.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute on Community Integration, INICO, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad de Salamanca, Avda. de la Merced, 109-131, 37005, Salamanca, Spain

    Francisca González-Gil, Cristina Jenaro, Maria Gómez-Vela & Noelia Flores

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  1. Francisca González-Gil
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  2. Cristina Jenaro
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  3. Maria Gómez-Vela
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  4. Noelia Flores
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Correspondence to Francisca González-Gil.

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González-Gil, F., Jenaro, C., Gómez-Vela, M. et al. Perceived Quality of Life and Health of Hospitalized Children. Child Ind Res 1, 198–209 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12187-007-9004-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12187-007-9004-0

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