Familys’ Perception of Hospital Animation: A case study carried out at Hospital Materno-Infantil in Oviedo (Spain)

Abstract

This paper collects part of a research project sponsored by the University of Oviedo on the animation carried out in the Paediatrics Ward at the Materno-Infantil Hospital of the Asturian capital city, by the following well-known NGO’s: Cruz Roja, Galbán, which only works with paediatric patients with cancer, Volunteers of “La Caixa” Foundation, which open their cyber-classrooms to all the children who are in hospital, and SED – Solidarity, Education and Development. We refer particularly to a survey addressed to those parents whose children were hospitalized regarding the use of those patients’ free time and which included other features such as use of free time, people it is shared with, influence, dedication and relationship with volunteers, effects of animation on patients, parents and their siblings -if animation was extended to them- as well as the physical features which should be considered in those hospitals and wards. The descriptive, exploratory and explanatory analysis of the study lets us identify the great approval of parents in reference to the hospital animation carried out by the above mentioned NGO’s and points out its positive consequences. These results support the necessity to professionalize hospital animation, which does not mean disregarding the volunteers’ valuable contribution. General lines of action are laid out in accordance with these findings.