Pretend Play as an Intervention for Children With Cancer: A Feasibility Study

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Oncology
• Child Psychology
• Therapeutic Interventions

Background:

• Children with cancer experience significant distress from symptoms and treatments.
• Focusing on quality of life and well-being is crucial alongside survival in pediatric cancer care.
• Supporting children's communication, self-efficacy, and coping skills can enhance their independence and participation in care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of an adult-facilitated pretend play intervention for children undergoing cancer treatment.
• To assess the intervention's impact on children's participation, independence, and overall well-being.
• To determine the safety and tolerability of the play intervention in this vulnerable population.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods design was employed to evaluate the play intervention.
• Five children with ongoing cancer treatment participated in six to eight structured pretend play sessions.
• Feasibility and acceptability were assessed through pre- and post-intervention measures and session-by-session data collection.

Main Results:

• Children reported enjoyment of the pretend play intervention.
• Small improvements in self-efficacy for care situations were observed.
• Participants experienced equal or increased quality of life, with no reported adverse events or increased worrying.

Conclusions:

• The adult-facilitated pretend play intervention is safe, feasible, and acceptable for children with cancer.
• The intervention demonstrates potential as a method to enhance participation and independence in pediatric cancer patients.
• Play-based interventions can positively impact the well-being of children undergoing cancer treatment.