96% of Parents Prefer Single Rooms for Hospitalized Children: Calls to Ease Single Room Standards

Survey on Parents' Perceptions of Pediatric Hospital Room Standards
"Concerns Over Cross-Infection and Invasion of Privacy"

More than 9 out of 10 parents or guardians of pediatric patients visiting pediatric hospitals prefer single-patient rooms, according to a recent survey. In response, there are growing calls to ease the standards for single-patient and multi-patient rooms in pediatric hospitals.

The Korean Association of Pediatric Hospitals held a press conference at the Seoul Dragon City Hotel in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, to announce the results of its "Survey on Parents' Perceptions of Pediatric Hospital Rooms."

According to the "Survey on Parents' Perceptions of Pediatric Hospital Rooms," conducted by the Korean Association of Pediatric Hospitals from November 4 of last year to April 24 of this year and targeting 2,855 parents or guardians of pediatric patients, 2,743 respondents?approximately 96%?said they preferred single-patient rooms. Only 112 respondents, or 4%, chose multi-patient rooms, including double rooms.

Among the reasons for preferring single-patient rooms, "the possibility of contracting other viruses or bacteria (cross-infection)" was cited by 1,387 respondents, accounting for 49%. The proportion who answered "all items, including cross-infection and invasion of privacy" followed at 28%. Next, "exposure, noise, invasion of privacy, and daily life friction" accounted for 22%, while "limited space" was cited by 1% of respondents.

When asked about their experiences using multi-patient rooms, 2,686 respondents?94%?said they were anxious about the possibility of contracting other infectious diseases. Only 69 respondents (2%) said they were not concerned about other infections, and 100 (4%) said they did not experience any inconvenience.

Regarding the question of whether the 8:2 ratio of single-patient to multi-patient rooms, which is currently applied in maternity hospitals, should also be applied to pediatric hospitals for infection prevention and privacy protection, 2,737 respondents?96%?answered "yes." Only 118 respondents, or 4%, answered "no." Currently, the ratio applied to pediatric hospitals is 4:6.

Lee Hongjun, Vice President of the Korean Association of Pediatric Hospitals and Director of Gimpo Ijeil Hospital, stated, "In recent years, with various pediatric infectious diseases spreading, complaints from parents or guardians about hospital rooms have been constant. Despite the shortage of single-patient rooms, there has been a sharp increase in cases where parents insist on being assigned to a single-patient room."

He added, "In some cases, to resolve complaints, hospitals are converting multi-patient rooms into single-patient rooms or allowing only siblings to share a room, which is making the situation even more challenging."

Choi Yongjae, President of the Korean Association of Pediatric Hospitals and Director of Uijeongbu Tuntun Children's Hospital, also emphasized, "Medical policies for children are still lacking or ineffective. We must address issues such as pediatric patient room standards and make substantial improvements and new developments in pediatric healthcare policy to help solve problems like the demographic cliff."