Exploring Parental Experience at Children's Hospital: Design Recommendations for Their Needs and Wishes

Abstract

This study discusses the needs and wishes in relation to parental care experience at children's hospital. Interviews were conducted with 15 parents and nurses based on observation and emotion diary at a children's hospital. Parents of child patients not only care for child patients, but also act as medical communication and information providers. Many of the uninterrupted roles have caused parents to experience physical and emotional difficulties. The findings indicate that three considerations need to be taken in designing product or service for parents in order to deliver better user experience while taking care of child inpatients: comfort, knowing, and emotional experience. Design implications, limitations and further study were discussed as well.