A programme introduced two years ago at Hamad Medical Corporation's (HMC) Al Wakra Hospital to help children better understand their illnesses and adjust to being in hospital has helped over 375 pediatric patients to date.

The therapeutic play programme is the first of its kind in Qatar and uses ragdolls, puppets, props, and toys to help children express fears they may have about treatment or their illness.

"For most children, spending time at the hospital is stressful. It can often be confusing, frightening, and anxiety provoking. Our therapeutic play programme was designed to provide an outlet for children to express their feelings and anxieties about their illness and their hospital experience," said Head Nurse for the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Al Wakra Hospital Hanan Musleh.

"Introduced in 2017, the program uses toys, free play, storytelling, games, coloring, and drawing to familiarize children with various medical conditions, diagnostic tests, treatments, and hospital equipment and staff. Ms. Musleh said the programme was initially introduced by the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit nursing team to visually explain planned medical procedures to patients." she added .

She says therapeutic play has been effectively used by hospitals across the world to help children understand and cope with illness, surgery, hospitalization, and treatment.

"Here at Al Wakra Hospital, we have developed a therapeutic approach that uses play and simulation to help children better understand and manage their illness. Many of our pediatric inpatients, both long- and short-term, have benefited from this programme. We have a team of nurses from different sections of the hospital who volunteer their time to manufacture the ragdolls that are used as part of the programme. The toys are made from unused or recycled fabrics which are complaint with infection control standards," said Musleh.

The Head Nurse for the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Al Wakra Hospital says materials for the ragdolls are donated by the American Women's Association of Qatar. She says therapeutic play can assist healing and rehabilitation and notes that medical evidence shows the approach can speed up recovery rates and decrease sensitivity to pain.

Source: QNA

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Sumaica Asad

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