Objective: To describe caregivers’ experiences during pediatric inpatient treatment at the Infectious Diseases Department of Lao Cai provincial Hospital of Obstetrics and Pediatrics and to analyze selected associated factors.
Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study combining quantitative and qualitative methods was conducted. Quantitative data were collected using questionnaires administered to 245 primary caregivers of pediatric inpatients hospitalized for at least 3 days and indicated for discharge. The qualitative component included 14 in-depth interviews with healthcare workers and caregivers.
Results: The overall positive experience rate was 78%. The highest positive rate was found for hospital fee payment (98.4%), followed by the pre-discharge stage (84.5%); the lowest rate was observed for the overall assessment of the hospital (57.1%). Key strengths included no bed sharing, no informal payments beyond regulations, timely reassessment, and consistent professional information. Educational level was statistically associated with experiences regarding service attitude, medical examination and treatment, and the pre-discharge stage.
Conclusion: Caregivers’ experiences were generally positive; however, improvements are needed in frontline communication, in-hospital amenities, privacy, and discharge procedures.