It is often difficult for children requiring medical attention to adjust to a hospital environment. Recognizing the need to address this, Hamad Medical Corporation’s (HMC) Al Wakra Hospital (AWH) introduced a therapeutic play program for pediatric patients, which has supported as many as 375 children since its launch two years ago.

The first-of-its-kind program in the country, the AWH play program helps children better understand their illness and adjust in a hospital setting.

Al Wakra Hospital Therapeutic Play Program helps 375 Children and it is the first of its kind in Qatar and uses rag dolls, puppets, props, and toys to help children express fears they may have about treatment or their illness. #QNA

— Qatar News Agency (@QNAEnglish) July 28, 2019

The program uses ragdolls, puppets, props, and toys to encourage children to express fears they may have about their illness or the treatment.

“Therapeutic play can help children better understand their illness and it can also help make the process of receiving medication or undergoing tests less stressful, as playing is an excellent distraction,” said Hanan Musleh, head nurse, Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, Al Wakra Hospital.

With the use of toys, free play, storytelling, games, coloring, and drawing the program helps children become familiarized with various medical conditions, diagnostic tests, treatments, and hospital equipment and staff.

A program introduced two years ago at Hamad Medical Corporation’s (HMC) Al Wakra Hospital to help children better understand their illness and adjust to being in hospital has helped over 375 pediatric patients to date. https://t.co/fhLJ1RRktC? pic.twitter.com/kwgxRjhS64

— Hamad Medical Corp. (@HMC_Qatar) July 29, 2019

 The Pediatric Intensive Care Unit nursing team initially introduced the program to visually explain planned medical procedures to patients, Musleh said.

“Many of our pediatric inpatients, both long- and short-term, have benefited from this program. We have a team of nurses from different sections of the hospital who volunteer their time to manufacture the ragdolls that are used as part of the program,” she mentioned.

According to Musleh, therapeutic play can assist in healing and rehabilitation.

Medical evidence shows the approach can speed up recovery rates and decrease sensitivity to pain. It also allows children to build emotional resilience through empowerment.

“In therapeutic play, planned treatments are demonstrated on a puppet with the child participating in the demonstration. For example, the child will be asked to administer a needle to the puppet or replace a bandage,” Musleh described.

‘Therapeutic play helps the child to understand and accept the planned treatment and is also useful in alleviating fears and helping the child to verbalize questions and concerns,” she added, stating that it is an effective way to meet the emotional needs of children who have an illness or require surgery.

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