The attitude of parents and nurses towards the fears of 8 – 11 year- old children, who come to the hospital

Growing person is constantly experiencing a whole range of psychological problems, fears, which arise because of particular age crises, difficulties in self – actualization, relationship problems, adaption at school and other social reasons. Lots of children uderstand the world not only with the help of the games, but they also gain personal experience in other situations which is not always pleasant. The world of childhood is not protected from diseases, visits to the medical institutions. The child's reaction to a disease, to the hospital, mood, behaviour, emotional reactions are often related to the unpleasant experiences and fears. Also, a child's reactions depend on the comunnication between parents and nurses, as well as the environment. It is essential ti find out and understand the fears of a child; taking care of health, visits to the clinic shouldn't be suffering. Only the respect of ana dult towards the fear of a child, sense of understanding, patient explanation and being next to a child will help to get to know his/her fears naturally and overcome them. The survey which could analyse the attitude of parents and nurses towards the fears of 8 – 11 year old children, communication features between nurses and children hasn't been carried out in Lithuania yet. That is why in this Master's thesis I anallysed the attitude of parents and nurses towards the fears of 8 – 11 year – old children who come to the clinical. The research was carried out at the Centre of Initial Medical Care in Ukmergė. 7 families who grow 8 – 11 year – old children and 5 nurses participated in this survey. The fears of children questionnaire was created in order to define the attitude of parents towards the fears of children. The rezults of survey showed that parents and nurses notice the same fears of 8 – 11 year – old children when they come to the hospital. The children who come to any medical institutions experience the fears of white coats, contact, vaccinations, dentists. The reasons which cause the fears of children are as foolows: the negatyve experience of the parents, pain, negatyve experience of children, the environment of a medical institution, uncertainty. According to parents and nurses, the increased communication with the child, the encouragement of parents and nurses, the help of school and psychologists, the colourful and charming environment of the hospital and the colourful, playful costumes of the medical staff would allow to decrease the fears of the children who come to the hospital