Reducing Children's Pain and Parents' Anxiety in the Postoperative Period: A Therapeutic Model in Turkish Sample

Abstract

PurposeThis study was conducted to determine the effect of a new therapeutic model (a therapeutic play/play therapy (TP/PT) program) on alleviating pain in children receiving inpatient treatment in paediatric surgery units and parents' anxiety levels in the post-operative period. Design and methodsThe study was designed as a semi-experimental model using the TP/PT program. Four measurements (pre-test, two interim tests and post-test) for children and two measurements (pre-test and post-test) for parents were performed. The data were collected using the Child and Parent Information Form, the Wong-Baker Faces Pain (WBFP) Rating Scale and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). ResultsThe mean pain score for children after TP/PT decreased in each measurement, and a significant difference was found between these measurements. The mean state anxiety score for parents significantly decreased after the TP/PT program, and a statistically significant difference was found between these measurements (p = 0.000). ConclusionsThis study determined that the post-operative TP/PT program was an effective method to reduce acute post-operative pain in children. Parental anxiety levels were found to correlate with levels of pre- and post-operative pain in children. Practice implicationsThe findings of this study provide a basis for using a new therapeutic model that is easy to apply and effective for reducing children's pain and parents' anxiety.