Evaluation of Videophone Communication for Families of Hospitalized Children

Abstract

This study evaluated videophones as a means of support among families who had limited access to their hospitalized children due to geographic separation. These videophones facilitated video-mediated communication between the hospital and the family home. Qualitative interviews explored the outcomes and processes related to videophone use for a subsample of 14 participants. Content analysis identified six themes: being in hospital far from home is “draining,” vicarious growth and the recalibration of priorities, “it's like you're right there,” source of happiness in a hard place, ease of videophone use, and limitations of the videophone. Participants reported that family separation during pediatric hospitalization was very difficult, and use of the videophones mitigated these effects through decreasing feelings of isolation and anxiety, and increasing feelings of connection between family members.