The Child as Visitor on Adult Wards

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AuthorIrene Balzan
AbstractWhile the international trend is towards extended visiting for children on adult wards, at the main acute hospital in Malta, children are allowed to visit their close relatives on adult wards on Sundays and Public Holidays only for just 1 hour. This research proposal, which is of a descriptive, non-experimental design, has been carried out to identify the attitudes of nurses and patients towards the visiting of children on general adult wards. The literature review highlights that the visiting of children on adult wards is beneficial and that severe restricted visiting may be detrimental to both the parent and the child. A sample of 30 patients were interviewed while a questionnaire was distributed to 36 nurses. A pilot study was carried out to test the tools and some modifications were needed. Although one can identify several limitations in this proposed research study, the data collected throws light on the research problem. The anticipated value and implications of the study are discussed.

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Key wordsExtended Visiting, Adult Wards, Attitudes, Nurses, Thesis

Compiled by: Dr. I. Stabile    Dr. J. Pace