Study to Assess the Effectiveness of Clay Therapy on Anxiety among Hospitalized Preschool Children at Paediatric Medical ward in Institute of Child Health and Research Centre, Government Rajaji Hospital Madurai

Abstract

Introduction Hospitalization is difficult for children of all ages. Children are in a constant process of development; in cognitive, physical, and emotional domains. The experience of illness or injury, hospitalisation and treatment impacts and inter wines with this process for each child. clay as a therapeutic tool has been effective for children in improving their problem-solving skills, cognitive development, self-esteem enhancement, decision making process, control of impulses, and anger Objectives To assess the level of anxiety among hospitalized preschool children in experimental group and control group to assess the effectiveness of clay therapy among hospitalized preschool children in experimental group. To compare the level of anxiety among hospitalized preschool children in both groups. To associate the level of anxiety among hospitalized preschool children with selected socio-demographic variables in experimental group. Hypothesis H1: There is a significant difference between the level of anxiety among hospitalized pre-school children in experimental group before and after clay therapy. H2: there is a significant difference between the post-test levels of anxiety among hospitalized preschool children in both groups. Widenbach’s Theory of helping art of clinical Nursing 1964 for a conceptual framework for this study. The Technique and tool used for the study was an interview schedule and Hospital observed behavior check list on children’s anxiety Findings are majority of the children were in 4 to 6 years of age and they have second order of birth and belongs to Hindu religion and from urban nuclear family. On the level of anxiety score in pre-test experimental as well as in the control group children shows the symptoms of severe level anxiety (46.7%). On post assessment in control group remain same level in the experimental group 13.3% had no anxiety, 43.3% had mild level of anxiety and the remaining 43.3% had moderate level of anxiety. In experimental children were not shown the severe anxiety after exposed to clay therapy mean score and SD of control group are 138.73 and 40.49 whereas in the experimental group are 93.9 and 34.58. It is proved that there is statistically significant difference between experimental and control group In post-test experimental group significant association had been found out in birth order and standard of studying demographic variables of children and the level of anxiety among hospitalized preschool children. The results of this study revealed that the children who received clay therapy during hospitalization had a statistically significant reduction in anxiety. Clay therapy is demonstrated to be effective in reducing the anxiety of hospitalized preschool children. clay therapy is highly recommended because it is effective, easy to carry out and inexpensive. anxiety among hospitalized children and selected demographic variables in experimental group.