Pedestrian traffic in a paediatric ward.

On three separate occasions, between May 1980 and May 1982, observations were made of the number of people entering a six cot room in a paediatric ward between 6 am and 6 pm. The number of different people interacting with one unaccompanied child was also counted and in the 1982 study, the child's responses were described in detail. Results showed that more than 300 entrances by 100 different people occurred each day. It is suggested that such social demands on an unaccompanied child in the psychologically vulnerable age group may add to the stress of a hospital stay.