Incorporating educative environments into the holistic care of paediatric patients
Susan E Wilks A , Julie B Green B C D E F and Tsharni R Zazryn C D GA Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia. Email: sueew@unimelb.edu.au
B Parenting Research Centre, Level 5, 232 Victoria Parade, East Melbourne VIC, 3002, Australia. Email: JGreen@parentingrc.org.au
C The Royal Children’s Hospital Education Institute, 159 Flemington Road, North Melbourne, VIC 3051, Australia.
D Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Royal Children’s Hospital, Flemington Road, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia.
E Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia.
F Melbourne Graduate School of Education, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia.
G Corresponding author. Email: Tsharni.Zazryn@rch.org.au
Australian Health Review 36(3) 264-268 https://doi.org/10.1071/AH11078
Submitted: 25 August 2011 Accepted: 12 February 2012 Published: 6 August 2012
Abstract
Hospital settings can, and should, create educative spaces and learning opportunities as part of their holistic care for young patients. The purpose of this paper is to examine the evidence for creating high quality, child-centred learning environments within paediatric settings. We explore the impact of physical spaces on learning; the literature on developmental stages of learning for children and young people as it relates to learning environments; and the literature on learning in out-of-school settings, particularly as this applies to children who are separated from their daily communities. As all paediatric settings can create opportunities for the ongoing educational development of their patients, this paper presents a way forward for this approach to holistic care.
What is known about the topic? Children and young people with health conditions are at a distinct disadvantage, both in terms of their health and their education.
What does this paper add? This paper presents a way forward for paediatric settings to provide an environment that includes opportunities for educational development for their patients, as part of a more holistic model of service provision.
What are the implications for practitioners? Practitioners need to understand the role and potential of hospital spaces for learning, and value the contribution a hospital can make to young patients’ ongoing learning.
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