Use of therapeutic play in nursing care for school-age children: a scoping review

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundTherapeutic play is an important strategy in nursing care to relieve emotional discomfort of school-age children. The aim of this scoping review was to map the use of therapeutic play in nursing care for school-age children.MethodsSearches in the databases: MEDLINE, CINAHL, Scopus, BDENF, LILACS and CAPES theses and dissertations portal. A total of 1,486 records were identified and 32 included in the review. Eligibility criteria: The literature on children aged 6 to 12 participating in therapeutic play sessions in nursing care in any place, in the form of original articles, theses and dissertations, in English, Spanish or Portuguese. There was no time limit.ResultsThe focus theme has been described since 1987 in the national and international scientific literature. There is consensus on the benefits of therapeutic play in nursing care for school-age children in various situations, especially in the hospital context, with proven efficacy in research that encourages the application of this strategy in nursing practice, but there are barriers for its implementation.ConclusionThe review identified the settings, situations, benefits, barriers and gaps regarding the use of therapeutic play in nursing care for school-age children.ImplicationsThe positive results reported in the studies can be used to enrich discussions about the use of therapeutic play in nursing practice for school-age children and encourage awareness of the importance of this strategy. The gaps identified contribute to future research.