The “no needles” dilemma: Mothers' experiences in supporting children aged 3 to 6 years in coping with hospital fear
Journal of Pediatric Nursing, cilt.90, ss.31-45, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, SSCI, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 90
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.1016/j.pedn.2026.05.039
- Dergi Adı: Journal of Pediatric Nursing
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Health Research Premium Collection (ProQuest)
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.31-45
- Anahtar Kelimeler: Family-centered care, Hospital fear, Mothers' experiences, Pediatric nursing, Preschool children
- Uşak Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Purpose Hospital experiences are a major source of fear for preschool children due to developmental limitations in understanding medical procedures. Mothers play a central role in mediating these experiences while managing their own emotional burden. This study aimed to explore mothers' perspectives and meaning-making processes in supporting children aged 3 to 6 years in coping with hospital fear. Design and methods This qualitative study was conducted within a social constructionist and interpretivist paradigm, adopting a pure reflexive thematic analysis design. Sixteen mothers of children aged 3 to 6 years who had experienced hospital or clinic visits were recruited from the pediatric outpatient clinics of a university hospital in Türkiye. Data were collected through face-to-face, semi-structured in-depth interviews between April and July 2025. Data were analyzed following Braun and Clarke's six-phase recursive framework, prioritizing the researchers' subjectivity as an active tool in the construction of themes. Reporting was guided by the COREQ checklist. Results Four main themes and fifteen subthemes were identified: emotional, behavioral, and traumatic responses to the child's hospital experience; sources of fear related to medical procedures, environmental, and cognitive factors; parental emotional state and family dynamics; and mothers' coping strategies and expectations for a child-friendly hospital. Children's fear primarily centered on needle-related procedures, separation from parents, loss of control, and trust-undermining experiences. Mothers described an emotional burden, dilemmas related to honesty, and a perceived responsibility for regulating their children's emotions. Coping strategies included honest communication, play-based approaches, distraction, rewards, and physical closeness. Conclusions Mothers make substantial emotional and practical efforts to help preschool children cope with hospital fear. Children's hospital experiences are shaped by medical procedures, parental emotions, family dynamics, and the hospital environment. Fear-sensitive, child- and family-centered care approaches are essential to reduce fear. Implications for practice Pediatric nurses should adopt family-centered and fear-informed care, support mothers' emotional regulation, provide developmentally appropriate and honest information, encourage parental presence, and integrate play-based preparation and distraction strategies into routine care.