Play Interventions’ impact on hospitalised children

Abstract

Background: The most common associations children have when they are hospitalised are fear, pain, and anxiety. Nurses and other healthcare professionals work hard to change children's perceptions of hospitals and turn them into a safe haven for children. The use of play distraction is regarded as beneficial in changing the attitudes of children and their relatives. According to studies, therapeutic play is essential because it improves a child's well-being and reduces anxiety, and worry associated with being hospitalised. It is also advantageous because it allows children to improve their social, behavioural, and emotional literacy. This dissertation will look into the effects of play interventions on anxiety/stress in hospitalised children. Research Question: In the paediatric population, is play distraction (PD) an effective intervention to decrease anxiety levels when compared to no intervention? PICO Elements: The population (P) investigated were hospitalised children. The Intervention (I) implemented was play distraction in Comparison ( C ) to no intervention. While the ultimate desired Outcome (O) would be the effects upon anxiety. Method: PUBMED Central, Web of Science, Scopus, and MEDLINE, as well as EBSCO (CINAHL Complete, Academic Search Ultimate, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, MEDLINE Complete), were used to conduct a thorough systematic literature search. The PICO elements were used, from which alternative key terms were deduced. These alternative key phrases were used in conjunction with Boolean operators and truncation symbols to form the search terms. The PRISMA flow diagram was then developed, which assisted in assessing the eligibility of the chosen articles. The CASP Tool was used to critically appraise the selected studies in this dissertation. Results: Seven studies were retrieved, which included four systematic reviews and three randomised controlled trials. Statistical difference was only evident in the three RCTs. Conclusion: The research paper did not yield a conclusive outcome; nevertheless, it did provide certain evidence indicating that the implementation of play interventions can potentially lead to a decrease in anxiety levels among hospitalised children. Implications and Recommendations: Play interventions represent a valuable approach in mitigating anxiety among children in hospital settings. Additionally, it is important to educate parents, caregivers, and healthcare professionals about the advantages of integrating play interventions within the hospital environment. Healthcare professionals should receive comprehensive training on the appropriate implementation of play interventions tailored to the specific age and diagnosis of the children. Hospitals should allocate adequate resources to accommodate all age groups during these interventions. Establishing guidelines that outline the most effective play interventions for different age groups will facilitate the implementation process in paediatric wards. Moreover, future research endeavours should strive for standardization in terms of the types, frequency, and duration of play interventions, as well as their delivery methods. This standardisation will ensure consistency across participants and enable the identification of intervention-related outcomes distinct from other factors.