Pediatr. praxi. 2015;16(3):198-200

Play therapy in Czech hospitals

Mgr.Eva Hlaváčková, Ph.D., Mgr.Jana Urbanová, Mgr.Jana Škvrňáková, Ph.D.

Fakulta zdravotnických studií, Univerzita Pardubice

Play therapy is a method aiming to eliminate a child´s fear of hospitalization, to familiarize a child with the hospital environment and to

get a child to cooperate. The aim of the research was to monitor the play therapy in the pediatric wards in the Czech Republic.

Methods: We used quantitative-qualitative survey. The quantitative survey was carried out through non-standardized 16-item-questionnaire,

distributed to the head nurses of all identified children‘s departments in the Czech Republic. The qualitative survey was carried

out through semi-structured interview and observation in the 4 selected hospitals. Play therapy is used in 31 out of 78 participating

pediatric wards. It is mostly performed by a pedagogical worker, the hospital play specialist working only in 6 pediatric wards. The

dominant elements of the play therapy include occupying hospitalized children and preparation for surgery, while other elements are

used minimally. To a small extent, play therapy focuses on the children in the outpatient clinics.

Keywords: play therapy, hospital play specialist, Czech hospitals

Published: June 30, 2015  Show citation