The Effects of Group Play Therapy on Self-Concept Among 7 to 11 Year-Old Children Suffering From Thalassemia Major
نویسندگان
1 Department of Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran
2 Nursing Department, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran
3 Nursing Department, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran
4 Department of Public Health, School of Public Health, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, IR Iran
5 Pediatric Nursing, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, IR Iran
6 Modeling in Health Research Center, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, IR Iran
doi
چکیده
Children suffering from thalassemia have higher levels of depression and lower levels of self-concept.Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine if group play therapy could significantly increase self-concept among childrenwith thalassemia major ages 7 to 11 years old in teaching hospitals of Golestan province, Iran, in 2012.Patients and Methods: In this randomized, controlled clinical trial, 60 children with thalassemia major were randomly assignedto intervention (30 children) and control (30 children) groups. The intervention included eight 45 to 60 minute sessions duringfour weeks, during which the intervention group received group play therapy. The control group received no interventions. Selfconceptwas measured three times using the Piers-Harris children’s self-concept scale: before, immediately after, and a month afterthe intervention.Results: For the intervention group, results showed that the mean self-concept score was significantly higher at the second pointin time compared to the baseline (P < 0.001), going from 60.539 to 69.908. Likewise, comparing the first and third time points,the mean score significantly increased and reached 70.611 (P < 0.001). Furthermore, changes in the mean score from the secondto the third time point, though non-significant (P = 0.509), followed the trend, going from 69.908 to 70.611. For the control group,comparing the first, second, and third time points did not result in any significant change in the mean score (P > 0.05).Conclusions: The results showed that group play therapy improves self-concept in children suffering from thalassemia major.
