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

NCT07348900 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 241
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 62
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Children receiving chemotherapy often experience high levels of anxiety, which may also affect their parents. Anxiety during treatment can negatively influence emotional well-being, treatment adherence, and overall quality of life. Non-pharmacological and supportive interventions, such as recreational play activities, may help reduce anxiety in pediatric patients and their caregivers. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of recreational play activities on anxiety levels of children undergoing chemotherapy and their parents. The study was conducted using a quasi-experimental design in a pediatric oncology setting. Children receiving chemotherapy and their parents participated in structured recreational play activities in addition to routine care. Anxiety levels of both children and parents were assessed before and after the intervention using validated anxiety assessment tools. The findings of this study are expected to contribute to evidence-based nursing practices by highlighting the potential benefits of recreational play activities as a supportive intervention to reduce anxiety in pediatric oncology patients and their parents.

Conditions

Anxiety; Pain

Keywords

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

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Anxiety level of children undergoing chemotherapy

  Children's anxiety was assessed using the Child Anxiety Scale-State (CAS-State), an age-appropriate visual analog scale designed for children aged 4-10 years. The scale ranges from 0 to 10, where higher scores indicate higher levels of state anxiety. Anxiety scores were recorded at baseline (before the play-based recreational activity intervention) and immediately after the intervention during the chemotherapy session.

  Baseline (before the intervention) and immediately after the intervention during the chemotherapy session

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Parental anxiety level

  Baseline (before the intervention) and immediately after the intervention during the chemotherapy session

Study Arms (1)

Play-Based Intervention Group

EXPERIMENTAL

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

Behavioral: Play-Based Supportive Care Activities

Interventions

Play-Based Supportive Care Activities BEHAVIORAL

Structured play-based supportive care activities were provided to children during chemotherapy sessions to reduce anxiety and pain and to support emotional coping. Parents accompanied the children during the activities.

Play-Based Intervention Group

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 receiving inpatient chemotherapy treatment in a pediatric oncology and hematology clinic;
• Children and parents who agreed to participate in the study and provided written informed consent;
• Children able to communicate verbally; parents who are able to read and write in Turkish.

You may not qualify if:

• Children who experienced a significant life event unrelated to the disease within the last six months (such as parental divorce, death of a parent, or relocation);
• Children receiving more than one chemotherapy cycle simultaneously;
• Children in the terminal stage of the disease;
• Children or parents who declined participation or withdrew before completion of the study.

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: January 20, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-01

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)