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The effectiveness of play therapy in children with leukemia: A systematic review
Sri Ramdaniati1, Wiwin Lismidiati2, Fitri Haryanti2
1Doctorate Program of Medical and Health Science, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia; Department of Nursing, Bandung Health Polytechnic, Bandung, Indonesia.
Insights
Play therapy significantly reduces psychological distress, including anxiety and stress, in children with leukemia. This approach also helps alleviate physical symptoms like pain and fatigue, improving overall well-being.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Oncology
- Child Psychology
- Therapeutic Interventions
Background:
- Childhood leukemia presents significant physical and psychosocial challenges.
- Effective supportive care is crucial for improving the quality of life for these children.
- Play therapy offers a potential avenue for support and symptom management.
Approach:
- A systematic review was conducted to identify and evaluate play therapy interventions for children with leukemia.
- Searches were performed across major databases (PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, ProQuest) and grey literature.
- Inclusion criteria focused on intervention studies (quasi-experimental, RCT) published in English or Indonesian from 2000-2023.
Key Points:
- Sixteen studies were included in the review, exploring various play therapy modalities such as art, music, pretend, and sand play.
- Fifteen of the sixteen studies reported positive outcomes.
- Play therapy demonstrated efficacy in reducing anxiety, depression, stress, fatigue, and pain.
Conclusions:
- Play therapy is an effective intervention for managing psychosocial and physical symptoms in pediatric leukemia patients.
- Nurses can integrate play therapy into care plans for children with leukemia.
- Further comparative research with consistent methodologies is recommended.
Problem:
Leukemia is the most common form of childhood cancer worldwide. Children living with leukemia experience various problems because of the disease's progression, harmful effects of treatment, and prolonged hospitalization process. To increase their well-being and alleviate their problems, these children require ongoing support. One solution that both parents and professionals can use is play therapy. This systematic review aimed to identify the type and effectiveness of play therapy in children living with leukemia.
Eligibility Criteria:
We searched PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and ProQuest databases. Additionally, we performed manual searches on Google Scholar, Google Web, and grey literature. Inclusion criteria comprised: 1) Studies that implemented play therapy on leukemia children, 2) Full-text articles available in English or Indonesian languages from January 2000 to December 2021 and updated until July 2023, and 3) Intervention studies employing quasi-experimental or randomized controlled trial (RCT) designs.
Sample:
From 1099 articles, 16 studies were selected. Several forms of play therapy were found, including pretend, music, art, and sand play therapy.
Results:
Of the sixteen studies in this systematic review, fifteen demonstrated beneficial effects on psychological issues, particularly anxiety, despair, stress, and physical problems (fatigue and pain).
Conclusion:
Play therapy effectively alleviates some physical and psychosocial problems in children living with leukemia.
Implication:
Nurses can utilize play therapy as an intervention for children living with leukemia. Additionally, comparative research is recommended with a similar research strategy concerning studies with the same design.
Systematic Review Registration:
PROSPERO CRD42022318549.
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