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Introduction <p>Alongside eHealth applications, entertaining and informative digital services are being developed for pediatric patients and their parents to support their stay at the hospital. However, research on children’s and their parents’ user experiences of these services is scarce.</p> Objectives <p>Our study aimed to investigate the needs and experiences of hospitalized pediatric patients and their parents regarding a new digital service: a service tablet at in-patient wards. The service tablet included several functionalities such as games, movies, and information about the hospital.</p> Methods <p>The study was conducted at a large university children’s hospital in Finland from 2021 to 2023. Data were gathered at four in-patient wards using an online survey. The survey questions were tailored to different age groups: 0–3&#xa0;years old, 4–10&#xa0;years old, and 11–18&#xa0;years old.</p> Results <p>Altogether, 111 families responded to the questionnaire. Most pediatric patients (75%) had their own digital devices, but they also utilized the hospital’s service tablet (86%). The primary uses of the tablet for children were games (64%) and movies/TV (55%). The majority of parents (66%) also used the hospital tablet, primarily to search for information about the hospital (37%) or play games (22%).</p> Conclusions <p>Digital services provided by the hospital show promise in supporting a pleasant stay for pediatric patients and their families as well as fostering positive experiences during hospital care at in-patient wards, potentially contributing to improved patient experiences. However, further empirical research on user experiences and the long-term effects of these digital services is needed.</p>

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Digital services to support hospitalized pediatric patients and their parents: user experience survey on a service tablet in a children’s hospital

  • 期刊论文

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  • 发表日期：

    2025年8月5日

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  • Nina Karisalmi,
  • Johanna Viitanen,
  • Eira Erola,
  • Pekka Lahdenne

摘要

Introduction

Alongside eHealth applications, entertaining and informative digital services are being developed for pediatric patients and their parents to support their stay at the hospital. However, research on children’s and their parents’ user experiences of these services is scarce.

Objectives

Our study aimed to investigate the needs and experiences of hospitalized pediatric patients and their parents regarding a new digital service: a service tablet at in-patient wards. The service tablet included several functionalities such as games, movies, and information about the hospital.

Methods

The study was conducted at a large university children’s hospital in Finland from 2021 to 2023. Data were gathered at four in-patient wards using an online survey. The survey questions were tailored to different age groups: 0–3 years old, 4–10 years old, and 11–18 years old.

Results

Altogether, 111 families responded to the questionnaire. Most pediatric patients (75%) had their own digital devices, but they also utilized the hospital’s service tablet (86%). The primary uses of the tablet for children were games (64%) and movies/TV (55%). The majority of parents (66%) also used the hospital tablet, primarily to search for information about the hospital (37%) or play games (22%).

Conclusions

Digital services provided by the hospital show promise in supporting a pleasant stay for pediatric patients and their families as well as fostering positive experiences during hospital care at in-patient wards, potentially contributing to improved patient experiences. However, further empirical research on user experiences and the long-term effects of these digital services is needed.