Bridging the Gap: Exploring the Impact of Hospital Isolation on Peer Relationships Among Children and Adolescents with a Malignant Brain Tumor

Abstract

Children and adolescents with complex medical conditions are often uprooted from their environments and isolated in hospital while undergoing treatment. Little is known about how they perceive this isolation and its subsequent impact on their relationships with peers, both during and after isolation for treatment. This study describes the experience of hospital isolation from the perspectives of children and adolescents with a malignant brain tumor. The use and impact of information and communication technologies (ICT) as a possible bridge for contact is also explored. Following a qualitative approach utilizing interpretive phenomenological analysis, in-depth interviews were conducted with eight youth participants who had undergone treatment for medulloblastoma. Data analysis generated three main themes: (1) transforming children and relationships, (2) hospitalization in a digital world, and (3) ICTs as a promising bridge back to school. Study findings provide insight into the experience of hospital isolation for children and adolescents, while highlighting the positive social as well as academic outcomes of frequent, open ended ICT use throughout hospital isolation. This is timely, given the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and its resulting isolation. Considerations for hospital social workers to promote relationships and connection, while facilitating a smooth transition as these children return to school are included.

Safeguarding patients from technology-facilitated abuse in clinical settings: A narrative review

“…Certain patient groups are particularly at risk, including hospitalized children, those with intellectual disability, as well as elderly patients, and religious groups. Sawyer et al report the benefits that technology brings to children who are hospitalized for long periods of time by providing socialization and connection during these periods of isolation [ 30 ]. Yet the increased exposure to technology also puts these groups at a heightened peril of digital exploitation, a concern which currently is not being addressed in hospital settings.…”

“…Yet the increased exposure to technology also puts these groups at a heightened peril of digital exploitation, a concern which currently is not being addressed in hospital settings. Despite some hospital restrictions on social messaging sites for pediatric patients, patients (particularly adolescents) reported navigating around these restrictions to access these websites [ 30 ]. At present, pediatric patients often have a greater digital literacy than those charged with safeguarding them, a fact that makes hospital safeguarding measures more difficult to measure and evaluate.…”

Factors of well-being of youth with complex medical conditions from the experience of hospitalization and convalescence: A pilot study

“…Personalized actions to improve communication with youth with CMC and with their caregivers are necessary to improve their perception of family well-being and help them display adaptive coping strategies [ 102 , 103 ]. The literature includes various studies addressing the impact of hospitalization in CMC from the youth’s point of view (e.g., [ 104 ]) on their needs (e.g., [ 105 ]) and supportive care (e.g., [ 106 ]). However, a gap still exists with regard to some concrete issues, such as hospitalization and readmission [ 107 ] or isolation [ 104 ], and the same is true for suffering, spiritual pain, or emotional stress regarding further procedures—especially those involving needle procedures [ 108 ].…”

“…The literature includes various studies addressing the impact of hospitalization in CMC from the youth’s point of view (e.g., [ 104 ]) on their needs (e.g., [ 105 ]) and supportive care (e.g., [ 106 ]). However, a gap still exists with regard to some concrete issues, such as hospitalization and readmission [ 107 ] or isolation [ 104 ], and the same is true for suffering, spiritual pain, or emotional stress regarding further procedures—especially those involving needle procedures [ 108 ]. Future studies should conduct comparative longitudinal studies with and without intervention-related parenting and child- and family-centered care, which would allow to see the features that improve QoL and well-being in the family group.…”