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Effect of play activities on hospitalized children's stress: a randomized clinical trial
Clarisse Potasz1, Maria Jose Vilela De Varela, Luciane Coin De Carvalho
1Neurosono, Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo, Brazil. clarissep@terra.com.br
Insights
Unstructured play effectively reduced stress in hospitalized children aged 7-11. Occupational therapists can use play interventions, considering age and gender, to enhance pediatric coping strategies during hospitalization.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Psychology
- Child Health Interventions
Background:
- Hospitalization can be a significant stressor for children.
- Effective coping strategies are crucial for pediatric well-being during medical stays.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate unstructured play as an intervention for managing hospitalization stress in pediatric patients.
- To assess the impact of play on stress markers in children undergoing hospitalization.
Main Methods:
- A randomized clinical trial involving 53 pediatric patients hospitalized for respiratory diseases.
- Measurement of urinary cortisol levels as a stress biomarker in two groups: one with play intervention and a control group.
- Analysis of play intervention effectiveness across different age groups (4-7 and 7-11 years).
Main Results:
- Children aged 7-11 who participated in play activities showed a significant decrease in urinary cortisol levels.
- The play intervention was less effective in younger children (4-7 years old).
- Cognitive engagement and maturity levels likely influenced the effectiveness of play as a coping mechanism in younger children.
Conclusions:
- Unstructured play is a viable intervention for reducing stress in school-aged hospitalized children.
- Interventions should be tailored to specific age ranges and consider gender differences for optimal effectiveness.
- Occupational therapists are well-positioned to implement play-based therapeutic strategies for pediatric patients.
Objective:
The use of unstructured play as an intervention to help children cope with the stress of a hospitalization period was tested in this randomized clinical trial.
Methods:
Urinary cortisol (a stress marker) was examined in 53 pediatric patients hospitalized for respiratory diseases in a public hospital, divided into two groups that did or did not play.
Results:
Boys and girls from the play group, 7-11 years old, showed a decrease in cortisol levels after participating in play activities. In younger participants (4-7 years old) the intervention did not seem as efficient, probably because in this group maturity levels may have influenced how children cognitively engaged in play as a coping strategy.
Conclusions:
The study showed the importance of using interventions that consider age ranges and gender in enhancing coping strategies, as well as the importance of such techniques that are employed by occupational therapists since they are professionals with expertise in the use of activities as therapeutic instruments.
