Enrichment Of Therapeutic Play Therapy Regarding Anxiety Disorders on The Reduction of Separation Anxiety Among Mothers of Under-Five Hospitalised Children from Selected Private Hospitals of Mumbai

Hospitalization and illness constitute a traumatic experience for young children, leading to fear & anxiety. This is primarily due to several contributing factors such as the unfamiliar hospital environment, separation from parents, interactions with unfamiliar medical staff, and invasive/noninvasive medical procedures. Children’s reactions are commonly manifested through protest, despair, denial and withdrawal. As a result, they may experience significant emotional distress and demonstrate an inadequate ability to cope up with the hospital experience. Aim of the study: The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of play therapy in reducing separation anxiety among under-five hospitalized children. Objectives of the study: 1] To assess the level of separation anxiety among the mothers of under-five hospitalised children by administering pre-tests in both experimental and control groups.2] To assess the knowledge levels of mothers on separation anxiety in both the experimental and control groups.3]To determine the effectiveness of therapeutic play therapy in the experimental group among the mothers of under-five hospitalised children..4] To find out the association between the pre-test and post-test scores of separation anxiety among the mothers of hospitalized children, with their selected socio-demographic variables in the experimental and control group. Materials and Methods: Research Approach: The research approach used for the study was quantitative evaluative. Research Design: A quasi-experimental research design with pre-test and post-test control group was adopted for the study. The study was conducted in the paediatric ward of Holy Family Hospital, Andheri west, Bandra, Mumbai, Maharashtra. Sampling techniques included non-probability sampling methods such as purposive sampling. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire of Separation Anxiety Rating Scale (SARS) by modifying the Hamilton anxiety rating scale. The samples were divided into the experimental group (30) and 30 in the control groups. Results: The findings of the study revealed that the mean pre-test higher 74.93, (SD 25.09) than the mean post-test score was 52.60, (SD = 10.7). The mean difference between pre-test and post-test scores in the experimental group was 22.33 (SD =18.77). The reduction in post-test scores was statistically significant (p < 0.001) as determined by the paired ‘t’ test, indicating the effectiveness of therapeutic play intervention. The Chi-square test showed a significant association between separation anxiety and play activity of the child (x2 =12.714, P=.013). There was no statistically significant association ( p> 0.05) between separation anxiety and other demographic variables as tested by Chi-square test at 5% level of significance. The obtained ‘t’ value 6.515 statistically was significant at 0.000 level. Hence, the research hypotheses were accepted. In comparison of the mean post-test scores of the experimental and control group’s post-test, the obtained ‘t’ value of 4.524, also statistically significant at the 0.000 level. Therefore, the research hypotheses were accepted, showing significant reduction in the level of separation anxiety of experimental group. Conclusion: The study findings concluded that therapeutic play intervention had an impact in reducing separation anxiety among hospitalized under-five children. The role of “nurse’s “is vital in implementing and supporting play therapy to manage separation anxiety in these young children when hospitalized.