Vol. 2, Issue 1, Part A (2025)

Background: Procedural anxiety is a common and distressing experience for children undergoing medical interventions, often leading to heightened fear, behavioural resistance, and physiological stress. Non-pharmacological interventions, such as therapeutic play, have shown promise in alleviating this anxiety, but their structured integration into nursing practice remains limited in many healthcare settings. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of structured play therapy integrated into paediatric nursing care in reducing procedural anxiety among children undergoing minor medical procedures in a tertiary care hospital in India. Materials and Methods: A randomised controlled trial was conducted among 60 children aged 4-12 years, allocated equally into intervention and control groups. The intervention group received structured play therapy 20 minutes before the procedure, while the control group received standard pre-procedural nursing care. Anxiety levels were assessed using the Modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale (m-YPAS) at three time points: baseline, pre-procedure, and during the procedure. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, paired and unpaired t-tests, and effect size estimation. Results: Baseline characteristics were comparable between groups. A significant reduction in anxiety was observed in the intervention group from baseline to pre-procedure, with lower mean m-YPAS scores compared to the control group at both pre-procedure and during the procedure (p < 0.05). In contrast, the control group showed minimal change before the procedure and increased anxiety during the procedure. Effect size calculations indicated a large and clinically meaningful impact of play therapy on anxiety reduction. Conclusion: Integrating structured play therapy into paediatric nursing practice effectively reduces procedural anxiety in children, enhances cooperation, and creates a more child-centred healthcare environment. This intervention is low-cost, feasible, and suitable for nurse-led implementation in diverse clinical settings. Widespread adoption through training, policy integration, and infrastructural support can strengthen paediatric procedural care and improve the emotional well-being of hospitalised children.