THE IMPORTANCE OF PLAY DURING HOSPITALIZATION OF CHILDREN

Konstantinos Koukourikos, Laila Tzeha, Parthenopi Pantelidou, Areti Tsaloglidou, Konstantinos Koukourikos, Laila Tzeha, Parthenopi Pantelidou, Areti Tsaloglidou

Abstract

Introduction: Play constitutes an essential parameter of the normal psychosomatic development of children, as well as their statutory right. It is also an important means of communication in childhood.

Objective: To review, detect and highlight all data cited regarding the role of play during the hospitalization of children.

Methodology: Literature review was achieved by searching the databases Scopus, PubMed, Cinhal in English, using the following key words: therapeutic play, play therapy, hospitalized child, therapist.

Results: During hospitalization, play either in the form of therapeutic play, or as in the form of play therapy, is proven to be of high therapeutic value for ill children, thus contributing to both their physical and emotional well-being and to their recovery. It helps to investigate issues related to the child's experiences in the hospital and reduce the intensity of negative feelings accompanying a child's admission to hospital and hospitalization. Play is widely used in pre-operative preparation and invasive procedures, while its use among children hospitalized for cancer is beneficial.

Conclusion: The use of play in hospital may become a tool in the hands of healthcare professionals, in order to provide substantial assistance to hospitalized children, as long as they have appropriate training, patience, and will to apply it during hospitalization.

Keywords: Therapeutic play; hospitalized child; play therapy; therapist.

Conflict of interest statement

CONFLICT OF INTEREST: NONE DECLARED.

References

    1. Favara-Scacco C, Smirne G, Schiliro G, Di Cataldo A. Art therapy as support for children with leukemia during painful procedures. Med Pediatr Oncol. 2001;36(4):474–480.
    1. Smeltzer S, Bare B, Hinkle J, Cheever K, Williams P. Brunner & Suddarth’s textbook of medical-surgical nursing. 12th ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Co; 2010.
    1. Potasz C, De Varela MJV, De Carvalho LC, Do Prado LF, Do Prado GF. Effect of play activities on hospitalized children’s stress: a randomized clinical trial. Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy. 2013;20(1):1–79.
    1. Sahler OJZ, Varni JW, Fairclough DL, Butler RW, Noll RB, Dolgin MJ, et al. Problem-solving skills training for mothers of children with newly diagnosed cancer: A randomized trial. Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics. 2002;23(2):77–86.
    1. Svavarsdottir EK. Caring for a child with cancer: A longitudinal perspective. J Adv Nurs. 2005;50(2):153–161.
    1. Boucher S, Downing J, Shemilt R. The role of play in children’s palliative care. Children. 2014;1(3):302–317.
    1. Dell Clark C. In sickness and in play: children coping with chronic illness. New Brunswick, New Jersey, London: Rutgers University Press; 2003.
    1. Li WH, Chung JO, Ho EK. The effectiveness of therapeutic play, using virtual reality computer games, in promoting the psychological well-being of children hospitalized with cancer. Journal of Clinical Nursing. 2011;20(15-16):2135–2143.
    1. Li HCW, Lopez V. Effectiveness and Appropriateness of Therapeutic Play Intervention in Preparing Children for Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial Study. Journal for Specialists in Pediatric Nursing. 2008;13(2):63–73.
    1. Shaw RJ, De Maso DR, editors. Clinical Manual of Pediatric Psychosomatic Medicine. Mental Health Consultation with Physically Ill Children and Adolescents. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Publishing Inc; 2006.
    1. Kourkouta L, Rarra A, Mavroeidi A, Prodromidis K. The contribution of dance on children’s health. Prog Health Sci. 2014;4(1):229–232.
    1. Kourkouta L, Papathanasiou I. Communication in nursing practice. Mater Sociomed. 2014;26(1):65–67.
    1. Haiat H, Bar-Mor G, Shochat M. The world of the child: a world of play even in the hospital. J Pediatr Nurs. 2003;18(3):209–214.
    1. Francischinelli AGB, de Amorim Almeida F, Fernandes DMSO. Routine use of therapeutic play in the care of hospitalized children: nurses’ perceptions. Acta Paul Enferm. 2012;25(1):18–23.
    1. Hall C, Reet M. Enhancing the state of play in children’s nursing. J Child Health Care. 2000;4(2):49–54.
    1. Jun-Tai N. CPIS Fact sheet no 6. Play in hospital. Children’s Play Information Service, NCB. 2004
    1. Association for Play Therapy. About play therapy. 2014. [(28-9-2015)]. Retrieved from .
    1. Carmichael KD. Play therapy: An introduction. Glenview, IL: Prentice Hall; 2006.
    1. Reddy L, Files-Hall T, Schaefer CE. Empirically Based Play Interventions for Children. 2nd Ed. Washington DC: American Psychological Association; 2005.
    1. McMahon L. The Handbook of Play Therapy and Therapeutic play. 2nd ed. New York: Routledge/Taylor; 2009.
    1. Madden JR, Mowry P, Gao D, Cullen PM, Foreman N. Creative arts therapy improves quality of life for pediatric brain tumor patients receiving outpatient chemotherapy. Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing. 2010;27(3):133–145.
    1. Armstrong TSH, Aitken HL. The developing role of play preparation in pediatric anesthesia. Pediatric anesthesia. 2000;10(1):1–4.
    1. Rae WA, Worchel FF, Upchurch J, Sanner JH, Daniel CA. The psychosocial impact of play on hospitalized children. Journal of Pediatric Psychology. 1989;14(4):617–627.
    1. Zahr LK. Therapeutic play for hospitalized preschoolers in Lebanon. Pediatric Nursing. 1998;23(5):449–454.
    1. Wikstrom BM. Communicating via expressive arts: The natural medium of self-expression for hospitalized children. Pediatric Nursing. 2005;31(6):480–485.
    1. Dos Santos DR, Bonfim CMS, De Azevedo Mazza V, Loewen Wall M, das Merces NA. The play process of the hospitalized child, guided by the Ludic model. Cogitare Enferm. 2014;19(3):571–574.
    1. Taylor J, Müller D, Whatley L, Harris P. Nursing Children – Psychology Research and Practice. 3rd ed. Cheltenham: Stanley Thornes; 1999.
    1. Lansdown R. Children in Hospital. Oxford: Oxford University Press, New York; 1996.
    1. Kool R, Lawver T. Play therapy: Considerations and applications for the practitioner. Psychiatry (Edgemont) 2010;7(10):19–24.
    1. Clatworthy S. Therapeutic play: Effects on hospitalized children. Journal of the Association for the Care of Children in Hospitals. 1981;9(4):108–113.
    1. Brown F. The Healing Power of Play: Therapeutic Work with Chronically Neglected and Abused Children. Children. 2014;1(3):474–488.
    1. Phillips NM. Berry & Kohn’s operating room technique. 12th ed. St. Louis: Mosby Co; 2013.
    1. Wright KD, Stewart SH, Allen Finley G, Buffett-Jerrott SE. Prevention and intervention strategies to alleviate preoperative anxiety in children. A critical review. Behavior Modification. 2007;31(1):52–79.
    1. William LHC, Lopez V, Lee TLI. Effects of preoperative therapeutic play on outcomes of school-age children undergoing day surgery. Res Nurs Health. 2007;30(3):320–332.
    1. Patel A, Schieble T, Davidson M, Tran MC, Schoenberg C, Delphin E, et al. Distraction with a hand-held video game reduces pediatric preoperative anxiety. Pediatric Anaesth. 2006;16(10):1019–1027.
    1. Kain ZN, Mayes LC, Caldwell-Andrews AA, Karas DE, McClain BC. Preoperative anxiety, postoperative pain, and behavioral recovery in young children undergoing surgery. Pediatrics. 2006;118(2):651–658.
    1. Davidson AJ, Shrivastava PP, Jamsen K, Huang GH, Czarnecki C, Gibson MA, et al. Risk factors for anxiety at induction of anesthesia in children: a prospective cohort study. Paediatr Anaesth. 2006;16(9):919–927.
    1. Landreth G. Play therapy: The art of the relationship. 3nd ed. New York: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group; 2012.
    1. Golden L, Pagala M, Sukhavasi S, Nagpal D, Ahmad A, Mahanta A. Giving toys to children reduces their anxiety about receiving premedication for surgery. Anesth Analg. 2006;102(4):1070–1072.
    1. Kain ZN, Caldwell-Andrews AA. Preoperative Psychological Preparation of the Child for Surgery: An Update. Anesthesiology Clinics of North America. 2005;23(4):597–614.
    1. Ghabeli F, Moheb N, Nasab SDH. Effects of toys and preoperative visit on reducing children’s anxiety and their parents’ before surgery and satisfaction with the treatment process. Journal of Caring Sciences. 2014;3(1):21–28.
    1. Ribeiro PJ, Sabates AL, Ribeiro CA. The use of a therapeutic toy as an instrument of nursing intervention when preparing the child to blood collection. Revista Da Escola de Enfermagemda, USP. 2001;35(4):420–428.
    1. Webb JR. Play Therapy with hospitalized children. International Journal of Play Therapy. 1995;4(1):51–59.
    1. Landreth G, Sweeney D, Ray D, Homeyer L, Glover G. Play therapy interventions with children’s problems. 2nd Ed. Northvale, NJ: Jason Aronson, Inc; 2005.

Source: PubMed

Sponsor e collaboratori

Condizioni mediche

Interventi farmacologici

3
Sottoscrivi