Pengaruh Terapi Bermain terhadap Tingkat Kecemasan Anak Usia Prasekolah Akibat Hospitalisasi di Rumah Sakit Meuraxa Kota Banda Aceh

Hospitalization in preschool children often causes anxiety, which can disrupt the recovery process. If this anxiety is not addressed, it can worsen the child's condition, lengthen hospital stays, and cause negative psychological effects. Therefore, an effective intervention is needed to help children manage their anxiety. This study aims to examine the effect of puzzle play therapy on the anxiety levels of preschool children hospitalized at Meuraxa Hospital, Banda Aceh. The research used a one group pre-test post-test design with 15 selected samples based on specific criteria. The instrument used was an observation sheet filled out three times to assess the children's anxiety before and after the intervention. The data were analyzed using a Paired T-test to compare anxiety levels before and after the therapy. The results showed a significant reduction in anxiety after the children participated in puzzle play therapy, with a p-value = 0.000 (p < 0.05). In conclusion, puzzle play therapy can effectively reduce anxiety in preschool children during hospitalization and can be implemented as a routine nursing intervention with support from healthcare professionals and families.