title: Preparation for surgery and adjustment to hospitalization.
abstract: One of every four children will be hospitalized at least once before reaching school age. The physical and psychosocial stress of hospitalization may be influenced by the child's developmental level, causing behavioral changes, somatic complaints, and a prolonged hospital stay. Through the use of careful development assessments, preoperative tours, and therapeutic play techniques fears can be allayed, misconceptions corrected, emotionally charged issues addressed, and a positive self-image created.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Ziegler
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Prior
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D002673:Child, Hospitalized / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010371:Pediatric Nursing; D013527:Perioperative Nursing; D010988:Play and Playthings; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000523:psychology*