The effectiveness of play therapy in children with leukemia: A systematic review

Problem: Leukemia is the most common form of childhood cancer worldwide. Children living with leukemia experience various problems because of the disease's progression, harmful effects of treatment, and prolonged hospitalization process. To increase their well-being and alleviate their problems, these children require ongoing support. One solution that both parents and professionals can use is play therapy. This systematic review aimed to identify the type and effectiveness of play therapy in children living with leukemia. Eligibility criteria: We searched PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and ProQuest databases. Additionally, we performed manual searches on Google Scholar, Google Web, and grey literature. Inclusion criteria comprised: 1) Studies that implemented play therapy on leukemia children, 2) Full-text articles available in English or Indonesian languages from January 2000 to December 2021 and updated until July 2023, and 3) Intervention studies employing quasi-experimental or randomized controlled trial (RCT) designs. Sample: From 1099 articles, 16 studies were selected. Several forms of play therapy were found, including pretend, music, art, and sand play therapy. Results: Of the sixteen studies in this systematic review, fifteen demonstrated beneficial effects on psychological issues, particularly anxiety, despair, stress, and physical problems (fatigue and pain). Conclusion: Play therapy effectively alleviates some physical and psychosocial problems in children living with leukemia. Implication: Nurses can utilize play therapy as an intervention for children living with leukemia. Additionally, comparative research is recommended with a similar research strategy concerning studies with the same design. Systematic review registration