Playing to continue being a child and freeing itself from the confinement of the hospitalization under precaution

Abstract

Objective: To understand the meaning of playing for the hospitalized child under precaution. Method: Qualitative research, where Symbolic Interactionism is the theoretical framework and Qualitative Content Analysis is the methodological one. It was attended by eight children aged between 5 and 10. Data were collected through participant observation of playful activities developed with the child by a nurse-researcher and semi-structured interviews mediated by story-drawing with theme. Results: Data showed the evolution of the interactions among toy, researcher and child; their rapid acceptance to get involved in playing; the way they explore the toys; the desire to free themselves from confinement; the relief of stress, the mastery of the situation and the protagonism enabled by the playing; the way they outline the hospital and the importance of having someone to play. Final considerations: Nurses should use creativity, seeking strategies that allow the child to play in this environment full of restrictions.

The meaning of a “good nurse” in pediatric care: a concept analysis

“…The "good nurse", aiming to guarantee integral assistance to children, through the empathic encounter uses creativity, seeking playful strategies contrasting with the restricted and stressful hospital environment. This attribute turns assistance into something less authoritarian and more humanistic, with closer ties and minimization of traumas (41) .…”

A musicoterapia em oncologia: percepções de crianças e adolescentes em cuidados paliativos

“…Estudo com objetivo de investigar o significado do brincar para criança em isolamento hospitalar verificou que a solidão, tristeza e prisão definem o ambiente. Além disso, evidenciou-se que nesse local o paciente sofre em decorrência da doença e das restrições existentes, sentindo-se ameaçado pela presença do profissional de saúde por compreendê-lo como realizador de procedimentos 21 .…”

Experimenting to play with hospitalized child: perception of nursing student / Experimentando o brincar junto a criança hospitalizada: percepção do acadêmico de enfermagem

“…In addition, they emphasize that they need to play and be funny 18 , this reveals that playing is necessary to be part of nursing care and reinforces the importance of the presence of one available to play with them and that values such activity. 19 A study developed with nurses pointed out that the lack of time and knowledge are difficult factors for the development of therapeutic toy in a children's hospital in northeast Brazil. In addition to these factors, lack of interest, training and excessive attribution were also cited.…”