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[Play as a care strategy for children with cancer]
Kálya Yasmine Nunes de Lima1, Viviane Euzébia Pereira Santos1
1Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.
Insights
Play significantly benefits children with cancer during their hospital care. Recreational activities provide joy, distraction, and interaction, positively influencing their overall treatment experience.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Oncology
- Child Life Services
- Qualitative Research
Context:
- Study conducted in a pediatric cancer unit in Brazil.
- Explored children's perceptions of play during cancer treatment.
- Data collected via photographic records and interviews.
Purpose:
- To understand the influence of play in the care process for children with cancer.
- Investigated how play activities impact the experience of pediatric cancer patients.
- Examined children's perspectives on the role of play in their healthcare journey.
Summary:
- Recreational activities like watching TV, using computers, playing games, drawing, and interacting with clowns were identified.
- These activities provided children with fun, joy, distraction, and social interaction.
- The hospital environment offered various play-related activities that children found beneficial.
Impact:
- Play activities are perceived by children with cancer as beneficial to their care process.
- Highlights the importance of integrating play and recreational services in pediatric oncology units.
- Emphasizes the positive psychological and social effects of play on hospitalized children undergoing cancer treatment.
Objective:
To understand the influence of play in the care process as perceived by children with cancer.
Method:
A descriptive, exploratory and qualitative study conducted in a children's cancer unit in Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. Data were collected between October 2013 and January 2014 by means of photographic records and semi-structured interviews with eight children, and content analysis with emphasis on two categories: Auxiliary instruments during play; and The influence of play in the process of care.
Results:
Recreational activities involve watching television, using computers, games and toys, drawing, the playroom and the clown, which provide fun, feelings of joy, distraction and interaction with other people.
Conclusion:
There are several activities at the hospital that are considered play-related and, for the children, they all benefit their care process.
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