Implementation of the Therapeutic Play in pediatric hospital units from the perspective of health professionals who are members of BrinquEinstein

Abstract

Introduction: The benefits of the application of therapeutic play (TP) in pediatrics are widely reported in the literature. Evidence supports its use in the care of hospitalized children with a positive impact on reducing anxiety and fear, not only for the child, but for her family members. This study sought to investigate the perception of professionals from a reference group for the application of TP (BrinquEinstein) in relation to its implementation in a pediatric hospital unit. Objectives: To understand how professionals who belong to the BrinquEinstein group evaluate the process of systematic implementation of TP in pediatric hospital units; outlining the facilitating factors and barriers for this implementation to occur from the perspective of these professionals. Method: Exploratory study, with a qualitative approach, developed in the pediatric and intensive care units of a general hospital, extraport, in the city of São Paulo. Professionals from different categories who work in these units and who belong to BrinquEinstein participated in the sample. Data were collected through individual semi-structured and audio-recorded interviews, being analyzed using the Inductive Thematic Analysis proposed by Braun & Clark. Results: From the analysis of the interviews, two themes emerged that represent the perspective of BrinquEinstein members about the TP implementation process: “experiencing a transforming process” and “establishing future perspectives”. Conclusion: For the professionals interviewed, it is essential that the use of TP becomes a routine practice in the different contexts of child health care. Managers and institutions play a fundamental role in the implementation of this practice, in the identification of needs and in the search for solutions to make it a reality.