An interactive multimedia approach to preparing children and their families for hospitalisation.

This paper describes the rationale, theoretical underpinnings and the process of developing an interactive multimedia preparation program for eight - ten year old children undergoing elective surgery. It is well recognised in the medical literature that hospitalisation is a stressful experience for children and their families. A number of preparation programs (books, hospital tours, education programs) have been designed, implemented and evaluated. Hospital based preparation programs, although successful in addressing the issue, are not well attended in Australia due to the need for the child and family to visit the hospital before hospitalisation. A multimedia preparation program utilised in the home setting before hospitalisation has a number of advantages including the potential to benefit a greater number of children. The other advantages of a multimedia approach include the ability to address the needs of both the child and family before hospitalisation and allow revisiting of information. An added advantage of the approach is the use of a workbook to accompany the child to the hospital setting and reinforce coping strategies learned in the CD-ROM.