RESUMO
Knowledge of the negative effects that hospitalization can have on the psychological wellbeing of children can be useful to plan prevention programs. The aim of this study was to evaluate children's perceived quality of life during their hospital stay. Overall 270 children (132 boys and 138 girls) aged 3-14 years, hospitalized in one of four hospitals in Catania (Italy) in the first trimester of 2007 were interviewed. Approximately 68% of interviewed children reported being satisfied with the hospital appearance and 74% with their room. However, 80% complained of the lack of a cafeteria and 31% reported that the quality of food was poor. Ninety-one percent of children were satisfied or extremely satisfied with play opportunities, almost 98% had the possibility of watching television and 66% used a computer during their hospital stay. Only 53% of interviewed children had not interrupted their schooling. In addition, only 34% had no difficulty in understanding what was said to them by healthcare personnel. The results of this study show the need to improve communication skills of healthcare personnel and promote opportunities for sharing mealtimes in a common environment in order to reduce the discomforts of hospitalization.