JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

The parents of hospitalized children are often dissatisfied with waiting time, fasting, discharge criteria, postoperative pain relief and postoperative guidance. Parents’ experiences help care providers to provide effective, family-centered care that responds to parents’ needs throughout the day surgery pathway.

Objective:

The objective of our study was to describe parental experiences of the paediatric day surgery pathway and the needs for a digital gaming solution in order to facilitate the digitalisation of pathway.

Methods:

This was a descriptive qualitative study. The participants (n=31) were parents whose children were admitted for a day surgical treatment or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The data was collected by using an unstructured, open-ended questionnaire. The qualitative data was analysed anonymously by conducting an inductive content analysis. Reporting of the study findings adheres to the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) checklist.

Results:

Parental experiences of the children’s day surgery pathway included three main categories: (1) needs for parental guidance, (2) needs for support, and (3) child involved in his/her own pathway (e.g. consideration of an individual child and preparation of child for treatment). The needs for a digital gaming solution were identified under one main category: the digital gaming solution for children and family to support care: (1) preparing children and families for the day surgery via the solution, (2) gamification in the solution, and (3) connecting people through the solution.

Conclusions:

Parents need guidance and support with the children’s day surgery care pathway. A digital gaming solution may be a relevant tool to support communication and to provide information on day surgery. Families are ready for and open to digital gaming solutions that provide support and guidance and engage children in the day surgery pathway.