Caregiver Perspectives on Communication During Hospitalization at an Academic Pediatric Institution: A Qualitative Study.

Objective: Communication among those involved in a child's care during hospitalization can mitigate or exacerbate family stress and confusion. As part of a broader qualitative study, we present an in-depth understanding of communication issues experienced by families during their child's hospitalization and during the transition to home.

Methods: Focus groups and individual interviews stratified by socioeconomic status included caregivers of children recently discharged from a children's hospital after acute illnesses.