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Therapeutic use of play in hospital
British Journal of Nursing (Mark Allen Publishing)
|May 14, 1992
Insights
Play therapy significantly reduces anxiety and stress in children entering hospitals. This therapeutic approach aids in their adjustment to new and potentially frightening hospital environments.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric psychology
- Child development
- Healthcare interventions
Background:
- Hospitalization often induces significant anxiety and stress in children.
- The hospital environment can be frightening and overwhelming for young patients.
- Effective coping mechanisms are needed to ease children's transition into healthcare settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the efficacy of play therapy in mitigating pediatric hospital anxiety.
- To assess how play therapy facilitates children's adjustment to the hospital environment.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on play therapy in pediatric care.
- Analysis of studies examining children's psychological responses to hospitalization.
- Synthesis of evidence on the impact of various play therapy modalities.
Main Results:
- Play therapy, in its diverse forms, demonstrably alleviates stress and anxiety in children.
- Children undergoing play therapy exhibit improved adaptation to hospital settings.
- Facilitation of emotional expression and coping strategies through play.
Conclusions:
- Play therapy is a valuable intervention for reducing pediatric anxiety in hospital settings.
- Implementing play therapy can lead to a smoother and less traumatic hospital experience for children.
- Further research into specific play therapy techniques is warranted to optimize outcomes.
Abstract:
Children can suffer much anxiety and stress on entering the hospital environment. Play therapy, in all its forms, can help to alleviate such stress, and facilitate a smoother adjustment to the new and potentially frightening surroundings.