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Effect of Play Therapy and Storytelling on the Anxiety Level of Hospitalized Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial Publisher Pubmed



Abdi F1, 2 ; Karamoozian A3 ; Lotfilou M4 ; Gholami F4 ; Shaterian N5 ; Niasar AA6 ; Aghapour E7 ; Jandaghianbidgoli M8
Authors
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Authors Affiliations
  1. 1. Non-communicable Diseases Research Center, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran
  2. 2. Nursing and Midwifery Care Research Center, Health Management Research Institute, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  3. 3. Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Faculty of Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
  4. 4. Student Research Committee, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran
  5. 5. Student Research Committee, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
  6. 6. Mother and Child Welfare Research Center, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
  7. 7. Department of Social Welfare Management, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  8. 8. Student of Nursing Department, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran

Source: BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies Published:2025


Abstract

Background: Children are anxious when hospitalized due to being away from home and undergoing treatment.This anxiety has an effect on their disease process, treatment, growth and development.Children’s anxiety has an effect on parents’ anxiety and can lead to lower level of cooperation among the children and their parents with the treatment team.the present study aimed to compare the effect of play therapy and storytelling on the anxiety of hospitalized children. Methods: A randomized controlled trial study with a three-group design (play therapy, storytelling and control) was conducted in 75 children aged 3 to 10 years admitted to Imam Ali Alborz Hospital of Karaj, Iran between 2022–2023.The data before and after the intervention were collected by the Spence children’s anxiety scale and the face tool for anxiety assessment and analyzed by the Mixed effect model statistical method. Results: There is a statistically significant difference between the anxiety score of the children for whom storytelling was used and control group. Also, among the two therapies of storytelling and play therapy, only storytelling therapy has a significant effect on reducing children’s anxiety.Regarding the time of measuring the anxiety score(the first, second, third day after the intervention), it was found that as this time increases, the children’s anxiety decreases significantly.morever, the children’s gender, age, and history of hospitalization are influencing factors. Conclusion: Play therapy and storytelling play an effective role in controlling the anxiety of hospitalized children, although storytelling had a greater role in reducing the anxiety of hospitalized children than play therapy. It is suggested to provide the necessary conditions and facilities for the implementation of these methods in children’s inpatient departments. Trial registration: https://irct.behdasht.gov.ir/,IRCT20220704055367N1,13/7 /2022. © The Author(s) 2025.
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