Play as an element of pediatric nursing interventions ; A literature review
Lakonen, Hilke (2023)
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2023060521507
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2023060521507
Tiivistelmä
Play is integral to children's development and growth. Hospitalization can be stressful for children; unfamiliar environments and staff, alongside frightening and painful procedures, can impede coping mechanisms. Therapeutic play considers children's psychosocial and cognitive development to support their emotional and physical development in different care situations. The thesis aimed to discover playful interventions as part of pediatric nursing interventions by addressing the research questions: “What kind of playful interventions are useful to reduce children’s anxiety, distress, and pain? How can play interventions support nursing tasks?” The study included peer-reviewed research articles published in English from 2013 until 2023, investigating playful interventions and pediatric nursing and their effects on anxiety, distress, or pain. Studies concerning children aged 3- 7 years and interventions involving or led by nurses were integrated.
This descriptive literature review aimed to determine the extent of the current knowledge of the topic, discover any interpretable pattern regarding existing theories and findings and discuss these. Sixteen scientific articles were systematically selected and went through inductive content analysis.
The play interventions included preparation for and distraction before and during a procedure. The studies incorporated interactive gaming technology, storytelling, role play, emotional outlet play, simulation play and medical play. Play interventions were considered a nonpharmacological approach to pain and anxiety management before surgery or during medical procedures. Administering play interventions showed decreased pain and anxiety, lower stress and anxiety or reduced pain and distress. However, one study reported no effect of distraction gaming on emergency delirium and pain, and another showed no impact of distraction during wound care on perceived pain. Integrating play in the nursing process led to the earlier discharge and was helpful in building trust and connection while improving the children’s social, emotional, and behavioral skills. Yet, nurses outlined concerns about staffing, lack of time and technological issues.
Therapeutic play seemed to be effective in reducing preprocedural anxiety and pain, preoperative anxiety, preprocedural distress and negative emotions towards medical procedures. Providing age-appropriate procedural content could improve interactions between nurses and the child, enhance communication, connection, trust, and advance time management in the nurses’ workflow. Nurses should expand their knowledge about the rich potential of play and receive training to incorporate play interventions in the nursing process. Nurse leaders and hospital management should provide resources for integrating play interventions into nursing care.
This descriptive literature review aimed to determine the extent of the current knowledge of the topic, discover any interpretable pattern regarding existing theories and findings and discuss these. Sixteen scientific articles were systematically selected and went through inductive content analysis.
The play interventions included preparation for and distraction before and during a procedure. The studies incorporated interactive gaming technology, storytelling, role play, emotional outlet play, simulation play and medical play. Play interventions were considered a nonpharmacological approach to pain and anxiety management before surgery or during medical procedures. Administering play interventions showed decreased pain and anxiety, lower stress and anxiety or reduced pain and distress. However, one study reported no effect of distraction gaming on emergency delirium and pain, and another showed no impact of distraction during wound care on perceived pain. Integrating play in the nursing process led to the earlier discharge and was helpful in building trust and connection while improving the children’s social, emotional, and behavioral skills. Yet, nurses outlined concerns about staffing, lack of time and technological issues.
Therapeutic play seemed to be effective in reducing preprocedural anxiety and pain, preoperative anxiety, preprocedural distress and negative emotions towards medical procedures. Providing age-appropriate procedural content could improve interactions between nurses and the child, enhance communication, connection, trust, and advance time management in the nurses’ workflow. Nurses should expand their knowledge about the rich potential of play and receive training to incorporate play interventions in the nursing process. Nurse leaders and hospital management should provide resources for integrating play interventions into nursing care.