Investigating the Therapeutic Impact of Play Therapy on Pain and Anxiety: A Comprehensive Study among Hospitalized Children (Aged 8-12) in Paediatric Wards

Introduction: The psychological well-being of hospitalized children is a critical concern, particularly regarding pain and anxiety management. Play therapy has emerged as a promising intervention, yet its effectiveness in addressing these challenges among children aged 8-12 in paediatric wards remains underexplored. By undertaking a thorough analysis of the therapeutic impact of play therapy, this study seeks to close this gap. Objective: To investigating the therapeutic impact of play therapy on pain and anxiety among hospitalized children in the age group of 8-12 years in Paediatric ward. Methods. Using a quantitative method, a quasi-experimental Pre-Test Post-Test control group design was implemented, involving 60 children aged 8 to 12 (30 in the Experimental group and 30 in the Control group). The samples were chosen using a straightforward random sampling procedure. The Wong Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale and the Children's Anxiety and Pain Scale (CAPS) were used to assess pain and anxiety, respectively. The Chi-Square test and the paired "t" test were used to statistically analyze the data. Results: The findings of present study show for experimental group the 't' test value is 24.32 and p value is 0.000 state that play therapy was beneficial in reducing the pain and anxiety level in hospitalized children in selected age group. Conclusion: The current study found that play therapy helps hospitalized youngsters manage their discomfort and feel less anxious. In order to lessen the worry and anguish that hospitalized children experience, nurses might include play therapy into their nursing care.