El cuidado de los adolescentes en los hospitales españoles: los pacientes invisibles / Care of adolescents in Spanish hospitals: the invisible patients

Objetivo: El objetivo general de este trabajo fue realizar una aproximación a los modelos efectivos de atención hospitalaria no psiquiátrica que reciben los adolescentes en los hospitales españoles. En concreto, se pretendía conocer si los hospitales españoles cuentan con unidades de ingreso no psiquiátrico específicas para pacientes adolescentes, qué parámetros de edad utilizan estas unidades, las enfermedades que atienden y qué servicios educativos y de ocio se ofrecen a los pacientes ingresados en estas. Si los hospitales no disponen de unidades específicas de ingreso para pacientes adolescentes, se quería saber hasta qué edad ingresan los menores de edad en la unidad de pediatría, dónde ingresan cuando no lo hacen en pediatría, y si se ofrecen actividades alternativas de educación y de ocio a los pacientes menores de edad que ingresan en unidades distintas de pediatría. Método: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo mediante encuestas llevadas a cabo en 73 hospitales, de los cuales en 68 se admitían ingresos de menores de edad. Resultados: En la mayoría de los hospitales participantes los ingresos no psiquiátricos de los adolescentes tienen lugar en unidades que no son específicas para pacientes de su edad. Por el contrario, estos pacientes ingresan en pediatría hasta una edad de corte a partir de la cual ingresan en unidades de adultos. La edad de corte más frecuente, según los datos, es de 15 años o menos. Salvo excepciones, cuando los adolescentes ingresan en unidades de adultos no tienen garantizado el apoyo educativo durante su estancia en el hospital y las alternativas de ocio y de ocupación del tiempo de hospitalización a que pueden acceder son las mismas, básicamente, que las de los pacientes adultos .Conclusiones: La consideración de los adolescentes dentro del sistema hospitalario español presenta una serie de carencias si tenemos en cuenta los parámetros internacionales de calidad (AU)

Aim: The general aim of this work was to address the current models of non-psychiatric hospitalization received by adolescents in Spanish hospitals. Specifically, we wished to determine whether Spanish hospitals have specific non-psychiatric admittance units for adolescent patients, what are the age limits used by such units, what diseases are cared for, and what educational and leisure services are provided for hospitalised patients. If the hospitals do not have specific admittance units for adolescent patients, we wished to find out the age limit at which minors are admitted into the paediatric unit, and where they are they admitted when they are not admitted in paediatrics, and whether alternative educational and leisure activities are provided to minor patients who are admitted in units other than paediatrics. Method: We carried out a descriptive study by means of surveys in 73 hospitals, of which 68 admitted minor patients. Results: In most of the participating hospitals, adolescents with non-psychiatric illnesses were admitted to units that were not specifically for patients of their age. In contrast, these patients are admitted into paediatric units up to the cut-off age when they are admitted into adult units. According to the data, the most frequent cut-off age is 15 years or under. With some exceptions, when adolescents are admitted into adult units, they are not guaranteed any educational support during their hospitalization, and the leisure activities to occupy their time while hospitalized to which they have access are basically the same as those of adult patients. Conclusions: The treatment of adolescents within the Spanish hospital system has a series of deficiencies as regards international quality parameters (AU)

[Care of adolescents in Spanish hospitals: the invisible patients]. / El cuidado de los adolescentes en los hospitales españoles: los pacientes invisibles.

AIM: The general aim of this work was to address the current models of non-psychiatric hospitalization received by adolescents in Spanish hospitals. Specifically, we wished to determine whether Spanish hospitals have specific non-psychiatric admittance units for adolescent patients, what are the age limits used by such units, what diseases are cared for, and what educational and leisure services are provided for hospitalised patients. If the hospitals do not have specific admittance units for adolescent patients, we wished to find out the age limit at which minors are admitted into the paediatric unit, and where they are they admitted when they are not admitted in paediatrics, and whether alternative educational and leisure activities are provided to minor patients who are admitted in units other than paediatrics. METHOD: We carried out a descriptive study by means of surveys in 73 hospitals, of which 68 admitted minor patients. RESULTS: In most of the participating hospitals, adolescents with non-psychiatric illnesses were admitted to units that were not specifically for patients of their age. In contrast, these patients are admitted into paediatric units up to the cut-off age when they are admitted into adult units. According to the data, the most frequent cut-off age is 15 years or under. With some exceptions, when adolescents are admitted into adult units, they are not guaranteed any educational support during their hospitalization, and the leisure activities to occupy their time while hospitalized to which they have access are basically the same as those of adult patients. CONCLUSIONS: The treatment of adolescents within the Spanish hospital system has a series of deficiencies as regards international quality parameters.