Dissertation on hospital play

Dissertation on hospital play

by: Emily71284 - 27-01-08 21:54

Hi there!!

 I'm a student in their final year of a Childhood Studies Degree and so it's dissertation time!!! I've chosen the subject 'How hospital play reduces the stress and anxiety of child patients' with the related question 'what is the nature of the stress and anxiety for child patients'. I chose this subject as i find it very interesting however i know very little about it. Therefore i was wondering if anyone could point me in the direction of any good literature paticularly journals as there is not much info on this topic out there.

 Thanks x x

by: hatthar

Hi Emily

 I'm really impressed that you know about hospital play, so many people who work in the field seem to know so little about it.

 I'm a qualified hospital play specialists and would be happy to help with anything I can.  There are masses of books the cover the topic of hospital play but they tend to be more in medical or nursing books rather than in childcare books.  Below are a few books that should help you start your research, but their are lots more.  Please do send me an email and then I can send you lots of other stuff. Hope this helps.

hattyhar :)

Email hattyhar@yahoo.co.uk

Cook, P. Supporting Sick Children and Their Families, 1999 Balliere Tindall, ISBN 07022022071 

Jolly, J. The Other Side of Paediatrics, 1993MacMillan, ISBN 0839116861 

Lansdowne, R. Children in Hospital, 1996Oxford University Press, ISBN 0192623575 

Trigg, E. Practices in Children’s Nursing: Guideline for Community & Hospital, 2000Chuchhill Livingstone, ISBN 044305875X 

Wolfendale, S. Special Needs in Early Years: Snapshots of Practice, 2000Routledge Falmer, London, ISBN 0415213894

by: Emily71284

Thanks so much for your response i have sent you an e-mail. I look forward to hearing from you.

Emily : )

by: Tunja

When I did a unit on hospital play I arranged to go into Stoke Mandaville and spent several days talking with the play staff, nurses, children and parents as well as reading before I wrote my assignment.

They also shared literature and practice. They had produced a good picture book with only a few words to a page for the children. They also showed and demonstrated  their toys and equipment and answered many questions.

This exercise was helpful for triangulating the theory I had read.

RE: RE: Dissertation on hospital play - 03-03-08 10:58

by: hatthar

I agree that visiting a hospital where you can see hospital play put into action by qualified hospital play specialists, and discuss the feelings of children parents and nurses in relation to this therapeutic play provision, is by far the best way to gain a clear understanding of this area and profession.

However it would be really beneficial if someone researching this area were to visit more than one hospital. This is because many different hospital Trusts put varying levels of importance and money into their hospital play services. In the same way as it would not be a good idea to visit one children's nursery and make a decision about children's day care.

Some NHS Trusts still do not employ qualified play specialists to provide this very specialised therapeutic play, even though NHS documents says they should. How many child care professionals, without hospital play specialist training would know how to properly explain to a child, their new diagnosis of cancer, and answer the question "am I going to die?"

It is also helpful to take into account in any research project or assignment into this area, that qualified hospital play specialists are also commonly employed in children's hospices; and as more children's healthcare is now provided in the community, there are community play specialists employed along side children's community nursing teams.

This profession is also an international one, with many countries employing play specialists in their hospitals such as Sweden, New Zealand, Kuwait, Australia. While other countries, such as USA, Canada, Holland employ very simular professionals called Childlife Specialists. This is quite a complex area and profession.

Harriet 

by: Hannah Samson

Hey,

    I will be in my 3rd year of a childhood culture and education degree, from september 2008, and am interested on undertaking a dissertation similar to yours, about play specialist and how they help the child and the family. I was wondering where you managed to find information about play specialist and if your were able to visit play specialists to gather research. Also where did u find relavent journals or books on the subject.

Thank you xx