Effect of Recreational Play Activities on Anxiety in Children Receiving Chemotherapy and Their Parents

NCT07348900 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 241
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 64
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This single-group pretest-posttest study evaluated changes in anxiety levels among children undergoing inpatient chemotherapy and their parents following nurse-led recreational play activities. Thirty-one child-parent pairs completed the study. Child anxiety was assessed using the Children's State Anxiety Scale, and parent anxiety was assessed using the State Anxiety Inventory Form-I immediately before and immediately after the recreational play intervention.

Conditions

Anxiety; Pain

Keywords

Pediatric Oncology; Chemotherapy; Play-based Intervention; Parents; Anxiety

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change in Children's State Anxiety Scale Score

  The Children's State Anxiety Scale is a single-item visual scale used to assess children's state anxiety. Scores range from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating greater state anxiety. Change was evaluated by comparing the scores obtained immediately before and immediately after the recreational play intervention.

  Immediately before and immediately after the recreational play intervention, within the same session

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Change in Parent State Anxiety Inventory Form-I Score

  Immediately before and immediately after the recreational play intervention, within the same session

Study Arms (1)

Nurse-Led Recreational Play Intervention

EXPERIMENTAL

Children and their parents received structured play-based supportive care activities in addition to routine chemotherapy care.

Behavioral: Nurse-Led Recreational Play Activities

Interventions

Nurse-Led Recreational Play Activities BEHAVIORAL

Children undergoing inpatient chemotherapy participated with one parent in nurse-led recreational play activities conducted in the clinic playroom after scheduled treatment. The available activities included puzzles, Lego and model-building games, puppet-making and puppet play, storytelling, drawing, origami, and mandala coloring. Children selected activities according to their preferences, age, clinical condition, and attention span. Parents were encouraged to participate when appropriate. The recreational play activities lasted approximately 30-60 minutes. Child and parent anxiety levels were assessed immediately before and immediately after the intervention.

Nurse-Led Recreational Play Intervention

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 4 Years - 10 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17)

You may qualify if:

• Children aged 4-10 years who were hospitalized for chemotherapy treatment in the pediatric oncology and hematology clinic Willingness of both the child and parent to participate Written informed consent provided by the parent Parent able to read and write Turkish

You may not qualify if:

• A major stressful life event unrelated to the illness during the previous six months, such as parental divorce, relocation, or death of a family member A clinically unstable condition preventing participation in recreational activities Terminal-stage disease

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Akdeniz University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Akdeniz University Hospital, Pediatric Oncology and Hematology Clinic

Antalya, 7090, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Anxiety Disorders; Pain

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Mental Disorders; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

• Şule Şenol, PhD

  Akdeniz Üniversitesi Hemşirelik Fakültesi

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: PhD

Model Details: This quasi-experimental study used a single-group pretest-posttest design. Participants received structured play-based supportive care activities in addition to routine care, and outcomes were assessed before and after the intervention.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 9, 2026
• First Posted: January 16, 2026
• Study Start: November 15, 2024
• Primary Completion: May 7, 2025
• Study Completion: May 7, 2025
• Last Updated: July 24, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-07

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)