Empowering Children in a Haematology-Oncology Unit

Hospitalisation can be very traumatic for children. They are subjected to an environment which they do not understand, nor have any control over, they are faced with many unfamiliar sights, sounds and smells and they have to undergo frightening and often painful procedures. The purpose of this study was to develop and describe a model for the facilitation of support for children in a haematology-oncology unit. The following research questions were asked: What are the needs of children in a haematology-oncology unit? What are the resources that can be mobilised so that the needs of these children can be met? How can support be facilitated for these children? It became evident that these children are robbed of all feelings of control and choice in the situation, resulting in a sense of powerlessness. For this reason, the focus point of the model was changed to include the empowerment of children in a haematology-oncology unit as the main focus of the model. The final model aims at the facilitation of support in order to empower children in a haematology-oncology unit in the private healthcare sector of South Africa

Autorentext

Annemarie Oberholzer is a consultant with regards to the psychosocial support of children in hospital in South Africa and also the Chairperson of the Organisation for Paediatric Support in South Africa - a non-profit organisation with the main objective of empowering children and their families in healthcare.