The impact of child-centered play therapy on anxiety levels in pre-neurosurgical pediatric patients

Graduation date: 2012The prevalence of childhood illness requiring hospitalization establishes the need for implementation of an applied intervention to decrease levels of hospitalization-induced anxiety in pediatric patients. In addition to anxiety, levels of perceived trauma have also been linked to pre-operative pediatric patients. Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) within the medical setting has the potential to reduce anxiety, perceived psychological trauma, and behavioral issues in children preparing for surgery. However, a review of the literature indicates that this need is not currently being met by professionally trained play therapists utilizing specific interventions in the pre-operative departments of hospitals. The purpose of this dissertation study is to produce two manuscripts related to the use of CCPT in hospital settings. This study investigated the impact of CCPT on levels of anxiety for pre-operative pediatric patients (n = 14) preparing for neurosurgery at Doernbecher Children's Hospital in Portland, Oregon. Results indicate that CCPT decreased levels of anxiety for this sample [t(13) = 3.73, p < .01]