Abstract
The purpose of this article was to identify the education proposals in the hospital environment, their implementation directed to chronically ill children and adolescents, and to understand their perception about their schooling in this environment. A survey was carried out at a pediatric referral hospital in Fortaleza, state of Ceará, Brazil, from March to May 2013, using semi-structured interviews and involving eight children and adolescents hospitalized because of a chronic condition. The data were analyzed and two categories listed: the view hospitalized children and adolescents have of their schooling, and the gap between theory and practice in the education of hospitalized children and adolescents. It was noticed that the sadness emanating during the children and adolescents’ hospitalization, associated with nostalgia and distance from school, with the restrictions imposed by the routines established by the institution, and with patients’ clinical condition generated immense suffering among these youth. Little is done about the education of these subjects, as the recreational and educational activities carried out by health professionals do not meet this need. Therefore, we conclude it is essential that the hospital offer this population educational follow-up, continuing the educational process through classes at the hospital in order to provide comprehensive assistance in view of the prerogatives prescribed by law.
Keywords
education; chronic disease; comprehensive health care; hospitalized child; hospitalized adolescent