56B: The Effectiveness of Therapeutic Play Interventions in Reducing Anxiety Levels in Hospitalized Pediatric Patients (birth to 18)
Lead Presenter(s)
Rachel Palka
Abstract or Description
Rachel Palka, Catherine Cranston, Madison Moreno, Jillian Baldwin
Background: Hospitalized play therapy has been shown to reduce upset behaviors, post-hospital adjustments, and cooperation in the hospital setting. Anxiety levels are heightened among hospitalized children due to fear of the unknown, being in a new place, potentially being away from family, and the terror of needles most children have.
Purpose: This evidence-based practice project aims to review and synthesize current literature comparing therapeutic play interventions in hospitalized pediatric patients with standard care on its impacts of reducing anxiety levels during hospitalization. The specific PICO question is: In hospitalized pediatric patients (birth to 18), what is the effect of therapeutic play therapy, compared with standard care, on anxiety levels throughout the hospital stay?
Methods: The literature search was conducted in PubMed, Google Scholar, and CINAHL. Common search terms were “anxiety,” “hospitalized pediatric patients,” “hospital-induced anxiety,” “mental health,” and “play.” Inclusion criteria included articles within ten years, hospitalization of at least two days, pediatric population (birth to 18), articles focusing on reducing anxiety, and the interventions being performed throughout hospitalization. Exclusion criteria included patient population older than 18, non-hospitalized or outpatient children, children with learning or cognitive disabilities, and any child hospitalized with preexisting or comorbid mental health disorders.
Results: put how many articles reviewed. Every study demonstrated a decrease in anxiety levels among hospitalized children who received play interventions; however, only seven of the eight studies showed a statistically significant decrease, and add one study outcome.
Conclusion and Recommendations for Practice: The use of therapeutic play interventions has been shown to decrease anxiety levels among hospitalized children. Interventions for as short as 30 minutes were shown to significantly decrease anxiety levels, which can have an impact on a child’s hospitalization. Therefore, education regarding executing play therapy should be provided to pediatric nurses, along with policies focusing on implementing daily or bi-weekly therapeutic play schedules on all pediatric floors of a hospital.
Mentor
Dr. Sagherian