Roleplay study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
ROLEPLAY STUDY: Study of the impact of Play specialist intervention.
IRAS ID
323377
Contact name
Daniel Hawcutt
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust/ University of Liverpool
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 8 months, 1 days
Research summary
Play Therapy is a behaviour modification technique employed in many different clinical situations to assist in carrying out procedures in children and young people, who are afraid or apprehensive of such procedures. It is also a valuable psychotherapy tool that has benefitted children experiencing mental illness and behavioural problems, again improving co-operation with treatment and procedures, such as blood sampling. Typically play therapy is led by the child, enabling them to understand, through play, the situation and creating an alliance with the play specialist (sometimes called "procedural anxiety specialist" for older children/teenagers) and ultimately the person carrying out the procedure.
This study aims to explore some of the views and experiences children and their families have about the play specialist service, to help learn the impact on patient/family experience. We shall be looking at the attitude of children, aged below 16, to having medical procedures, such as blood taking, before and after interventions from a play specialist. Each child will have been referred to the play specialist team by their clinical team already. In addition, the questionnaire study will also explore how the process of play therapy may faciliate/enable previously fearful children/young people to consider participating in clinical trials requiring invasive procedures (such as blood tests).
REC name
East of England - Essex Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/EE/0081
Date of REC Opinion
31 May 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion