A história do brinquedo

Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy. 2012; Early Online, 1–9

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Effect of play activities on hospitalized children’s stress: a randomized clinical trial

Scand J Occup Ther Downloaded from informahealthcare.com by 189.100.45.4 on 12/09/12 For personal use only.

CLARISSE POTASZ1,2, MARIA JOSE VILELA DE VARELA1, LUCIANE COIN DE CARVALHO1, LUCILA FERNANDES DO PRADO1 & GILMAR FERNANDES DO PRADO1
1

Neurosono, Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo, Brazil, and 2Neuropsychiatry – Occupational Therapy Department, Hospital Infantil Candido Fontoura, Sao Paula, Brazil

Abstract Objective:The use of unstructured play as an intervention to help children cope with the stress of a hospitalization period was tested in this randomized clinical trial. Methods:Urinary cortisol (a stress marker) was examined in 53 pediatric patients hospitalized for respiratory diseases in a public hospital, divided into two groups that did or did not play. Results:Boys and girls from the play group, 7–11 years old, showed a decrease in cortisol levels after participating in play activities. In younger participants (4–7 years old) the intervention did not seem as efficient, probably because in this group maturity levels may have influenced how children cognitively engaged in play as a coping strategy. Conclusions:The study showed the importance of using interventions that consider age ranges and gender in enhancing coping strategies, as well as the importance of such techniques that are employed by occupational therapists since they are professionals with expertise in the use of activities as therapeutic instruments.

Key words: play, occupational therapy, coping skills

Introduction Illness and injury bring children into healthcare settings under adverse and often life-threatening circumstances. Some conditions, such as burns, sickle cell disease, diabetes, and severe asthma, affect large groups of children and they may endure painful procedures and frightening