The difficulties of educating children with chronic illness in the hospital context

Abstract

The objective of this qualitative study was to understand the perception that families of hospitalized children with chronic illness about their being away from the process of education. The empirical material was produced by means of interviews performed with families of hospitalized children with chronic illness. The data was analyzed based on the principles of thematic analysis. Among other aspects, the data showed the lack of systematized pedagogical actions in the studied hospital, in a way that the educational activities that were developed were seen as a moment of leisure. We understand that the hospital class is becoming an important health care technology for hospitalized children. Therefore, it requires support, especially from the Departments of Education, in terms of providing the necessary human resources, funding and materials. This is a pioneer study, capable of helping improve the quality of life of children with chronic illness.