Family experiences during child hospitalization: an integrative review

Objective: The study's purpose has been to unveil what has been produced by nursing professionals concerning the experiences faced by hospitalized children family members. Methods: It is an integrative literature review, which was performed in January 2018 based on the search in the PubMed, LILACS and SciELO databases, using the descriptors: hospitalized child, family, nursing. The selected studies were published from 2011 to 2017 in English, Portuguese, and Spanish languages. After data analysis, 31 studies were selected. Results: The following categories were elaborated: adaptation of the family routine, withdrawing away from the rest of the family and healthy children; maladaptation due to physical structure and lack of hospital comfort; medical procedures, nursing and strict rules/routines. Conclusion: Children hospitalization impacts significantly on their family life, affecting their family relationships, their physical and mental health, and the maintenance of their social network.