Puppets as a strategy for communication with Brazilian children with cancer

• Published in: Nursing & health sciences Vol. 18; no. 1; pp. 30 - 37
• Main Authors: Sposito, Amanda Mota Pacciulio, de Montigny, Francine, Sparapani, Valéria de Cássia, Lima, Regina Aparecida Garcia de, Silva-Rodrigues, Fernanda Machado, Pfeifer, Luzia Iara, Nascimento, Lucila Castanheira
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Australia Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.03.2016
• Subjects: art therapy; Autonomy; Brazil; Cancer; Child; Clinical medicine; Clinical practice; Cognitive development; Communication; Emotional development; Female; games and toys; Health professionals; Hospitalized; Hospitals, Teaching; Humans; Male; Neoplasms - psychology; Nurse-Patient Relations; Nursing; Pediatrics; Play and Playthings; Play Therapy - methods; Puppetry; puppets; Qualitative Research; Researcher-Subject Relations; Sick children; Social competence; Brazil; play; puppets; games and toys; cancer; qualitative research; communication; art therapy; child
• ISSN: 1441-0745; 1442-2018
• DOI: 10.1111/nhs.12222

Children are considered competent social actors. Although they are able to express their opinions, they may have some difficulties in answering direct verbal questions, requiring researchers and health professionals to enter their world by using auxiliary resources for communication. This study presents the experience of using finger puppets as a playful strategy for improving interaction and communication with hospitalized children with cancer, aged seven to 12. It describes the strategy of making and using puppets as an auxiliary tool to communicate with children with cancer and presents the results and limitations of using puppets in clinical practice. The use of the puppets, creatively and in accordance with the children's motor, cognitive, and emotional development, showed benefits, such as allowing the children to freely express themselves; respecting their autonomy; and minimizing the hierarchical adult‐child relationship. The use of puppets is an appropriate strategy to communicate with hospitalized children. This tool can also enrich clinical practice, as it encourages children with cancer to report their experience of being ill and also helps the health team during evaluation and intervention.