Revealing the World of Oncological Treatment Through Dramatic Therapeutic Play

Abstract

This study aimed to understand the play of the preschool child undergoing oncological treatment through dramatic therapeutic play. A total of five preschool age children with cancer participated in the dramatic therapeutic play sessions, between January and May 2013. The material was analyzed using the framework of phenomenology: analysis of the structure of the phenomenon in place. The following categories emerged from the sessions: Immersing oneself in the world of the disease and the oncological treatment; and Remembering the world without the disease. The study learned that becoming ill with cancer is a process which generates pain and suffering for the child, leading her to feel small and fragile in the face of the discomforts of the numerous procedures to which she is subjected. Therapeutic play was an important resource for revealing how the child with cancer feels during the treatment, and showed the children's difficulty in interacting with the unknown, and how this difficulty makes the balance between the points of health and illness complex.

Play Therapy as an Intervention in Hospitalized Children: A Systematic Review

“…Some studies inform that cancer produces feelings of fear, anxiety, and insecurity for the future and depressive symptoms in children [21,22]. Through play interventions, it has been found that depressive symptoms can be reduced in children with cancer who are hospitalized for long periods [21].…”

“…Through play interventions, it has been found that depressive symptoms can be reduced in children with cancer who are hospitalized for long periods [21]. In addition, it helps to express and diminish the feelings mentioned above [22].…”

“…One study had 30 min play sessions 5 days a week [21], other had sessions from 1 to 3 h [24], and others did not inform about the duration of the session [22,23]. The children in the experimental group received an individual session (1 h) of play therapy 3-7 days before the surgery.…”

Instructional therapeutic toy in the culture care of the child with diabetes type 1

“…Other authors support this when they state the therapeutic toy is not just an instrument of distraction and access to the child's world. This toy also has become important, as long as it may help the child to face the disease's reality, making it possible to them to understand and recover self control before adversities, being essential in their daily life (18) . It was observed that to add the therapeutic toy in the culture care of the child with DM1 promoted a unique intervention, considerably more humanized, creative and interactive.…”

Application program to prepare child/family for venipuncture: experience report

“…The technique favors the control of the situation by the child, once he/she "shifts from passive to dominant role, takes control and has freedom to express him/herself" in critical events (5) . It is important to mention that the TT stimulates the child to collaborate with the procedure, since he/she presents feelings symbolically connected to anxiety due to lack of knowledge of the therapeutic process phases (6) , what reinforces the relevance of previously explaining what will be done (7) . Similarly, when realizing that the child is more relaxed about the preparation for the procedures, the parents become calmer, safer and more confident about the nursing team (5) .…”