Younger children's (three to five years) perceptions of being in a health-care situation

Abstract

Younger children are common users of health-care services. Their perspective on a health-care situation and their ways of communication differ from that of adults. There is a shortness of research of younger children's perceptions of health-care situations. The knowledge that exists indicates the importance of involving the child's perspective to enable understanding and to offer appropriate support. This paper aimed to describe how younger children perceive to be in a health-care situation. Semi-structured interviews, analysed phenomenographically, were used. The main findings revealed that children view themselves as actors, as either main or co-actors, in a health-care situation. Parents and professionals are also understood as actors. The children's perceptions enable professionals to create a mutual understanding which will give openings for increased involvement of the children and an improved level of the children's health literacy.