INTRODUCTION:

Hospitalization can be a stressful and traumatic experience for children due to unfamiliar surroundings, painful procedures, and separation from family members¹. Children often lack the cognitive ability to understand medical procedures, which increases their fear and anxiety².

Anxiety among hospitalized children is commonly associated with factors such as loss of control, fear of pain, and unfamiliar hospital environments³. Studies indicate that 50–75% of children experience significant anxiety during hospitalization, especially before surgical procedures⁴.

Play is considered a natural mode of communication for children and plays a crucial role in their emotional and psychological development⁵. Through play, children can express their fears, anxieties, and emotions in a safe and controlled environment⁶. It also helps in reducing stress and promoting coping mechanisms⁷.

Play therapy is a structured therapeutic approach that uses play as a medium to help children deal with emotional and psychological challenges⁸. It has been widely used in pediatric settings to reduce anxiety, improve cooperation during procedures, and enhance overall well-being⁹.

Nurses play a vital role in implementing play therapy interventions, as they are directly involved in the care of hospitalized children¹⁰. Incorporating play therapy into routine nursing care can significantly improve the child’s hospital experience and reduce anxiety levels.

Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of play therapy in reducing anxiety among hospitalized children.

NEED FOR THE STUDY:

Child’s play is a useful tool for nurses in the diagnostic process of making judgments about a hospitalized child's compliance with medical procedures, adjustment to the hospital environment, degree of pain, and level of psychosocial functioning⁸. However, the knowledge required to effectively use play in a therapeutic manner is often limited among nurses and is not adequately emphasized in nursing education⁸.

Hospitalization is often the first major crisis experienced by children. It brings multiple stressors such as separation anxiety, loss of control, fear of pain, and unfamiliar environments². Children have limited coping mechanisms, making them more vulnerable to psychological distress during illness and hospitalization².

Play is one of the most important and effective tools for managing stress in children. It allows children to express their fears, anxieties, and emotions in a safe and natural way². In a hospital setting, play serves as a distraction from illness and creates a sense of normalcy, thereby reducing anxiety and promoting emotional well-being¹².

Studies have shown that children exposed to play activities demonstrate significantly lower anxiety levels compared to those who do not receive such interventions¹¹. Play therapy helps children understand medical procedures, reduces fear of the unknown, and enhances their coping abilities.

Despite its proven benefits, the use of play therapy in clinical practice remains limited due to lack of awareness, training, and structured implementation in healthcare settings⁸. Therefore, there is a strong need to assess the effectiveness of play therapy in reducing anxiety among hospitalized children and to promote its integration into routine pediatric nursing care.

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY:

1. To assess the anxiety level before and after play therapy among hospitalized children.

2. To evaluate the effectiveness of play therapy on anxiety among hospitalized children (6–12 years).

3. To determine the association between post-test anxiety levels and selected demographic variables.

HYPOTHESIS:

^H1^:^{The
mean post-test anxiety scores of hospitalized children will be significantly
lower than the mean pre-test anxiety scores after play therapy.}

^H2^:^{There
will be a significant association between post-test anxiety levels and selected
demographic variables.}

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

Research Approach:

A Quantitative approach was used for analysing the effectiveness of play therapy on reduction of anxiety among hospitalized children (6-12 years).

Research Design:

Research design used for the study is a pre-experimental one-group pre-test post-test design

Variables:

Independent Variable: Play Therapy.

Dependent Variable: Anxiety Level.

Setting of the Study:

Janak Pediatric Hospital, Rajkot, is a well-equipped, state-of-the-art healthcare facility for children and adolescents. It offers a wide range of services, from basic care (including vaccinations) to advanced treatment for children aged 0 to 18 years. The hospital is a significant milestone in the child healthcare sector of the region and is designed not only to keep ailing children comfortable and engaged but also to reduce anxiety among their parents.

Population:

Target population: Hospitalized children.

Accessible population: All the children with the age group of 6-12 years at selected hospital Rajkot, who are hospitalized.

Sample:

40 children were selected using convenience sampling

Data Collection Tool:

Standardized anxiety rating scale

Procedure:

· Pre-test anxiety assessed

· Play therapy administered for selected duration

· Post-test conducted after intervention

RESULT:

· Majority were aged 9–12 years

· Pre-test anxiety: Severe

· Post-test anxiety: Mild/No anxiety

· t-value = 13.66 (p < 0.001)

DISCUSSION:

The findings of the study indicate that play therapy is highly effective in reducing anxiety among hospitalized children. The reduction in anxiety levels may be attributed to the therapeutic effects of play, which allows children to express emotions and cope with stress.

These findings are consistent with previous studies that demonstrated the effectiveness of play therapy in reducing preoperative anxiety and improving psychological well-being.

Play therapy provides a sense of control, familiarity, and comfort, which helps children adapt better to the hospital environment. Nurses can utilize play therapy as a cost-effective and non-invasive intervention in pediatric care settings.

CONCLUSION:

The study concludes that play therapy significantly reduces anxiety among hospitalized children. It is an effective, safe, and non-pharmacological intervention that should be incorporated into pediatric nursing practice to enhance the emotional well-being of children.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST:

No conflict of interest declared.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:

The researcher expresses gratitude to the hospital authorities, participants, and all those who supported the study.

REFERENCES:

1. American Academy of Pediatrics. The power of play: A pediatric role in enhancing development in young children. Pediatrics. 2018; 142(3): e20182058.

2. Hockenberry MJ, Wilson D. Wong’s essentials of pediatric nursing. 8th ed. Philadelphia: Elsevier; 2010.

3. Neerja KP. Textbook of growth and development for nursing students. 1st ed. New Delhi: Jaypee Brothers; 2006.

4. Kain ZN, Mayes LC, Caramico LA. Preoperative anxiety in children: predictors and outcomes. Pediatrics. 1996; 97(4): 1–6.

5. Schaefer CE. Foundations of play therapy. 2nd ed. Hoboken: Wiley; 2011.

6. Landreth GL. Play therapy: The art of the relationship. 3rd ed. New York: Routledge; 2012.

7. Wein H. Stress and disease: New perspectives. Scientific American. 2003; 289(3): 15–21.

8. Jessee PO. Nurses, children and play: Therapeutic use of play in hospitals. Issues Compr Pediatr Nurs. 1992; 15(4): 261–269.

9. Morgan S. Play therapy in children’s hospitals. New York: Columbia University Medical Center; 2008.

10. Hockenberry MJ, Wilson D. Wong’s nursing care of infants and children. 11th ed. St. Louis: Elsevier; 2019.

11. Weber FS. The influence of playful activities on children’s anxiety during the preoperative period. J Pediatr (Rio J). 2010; 86(3): 209–214.

12. Lee HL. A therapeutic play program for children undergoing day surgery. Hong Kong: University of Hong Kong; 2009.

Received on 14.02.2026 Revised on 16.03.2026

Accepted on 06.04.2026 Published on 02.05.2026

Available online from May 05, 2026

Int. J. of Advances in Nursing Management. 2026;14(2):92-94.

DOI: 10.52711/2454-2652.2026.00019

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