Effect of therapeutic play intervention on early-phase nausea, vomiting, and quality of life in children receiving chemotherapy: A randomized controlled study.

PURPOSE: This randomized controlled study aimed to evaluate the effect of a therapeutic play intervention on early-onset nausea, vomiting, and quality of life in children receiving chemotherapy.

METHODS

The study included 62 children undergoing chemotherapy between December 2023 and February 2025. Participants were randomly assigned to a therapeutic play intervention group (n = 32) or a control group receiving standard care (n = 30). In addition to routine care, children in the intervention group participated in a single 30-min therapeutic play session, whereas the control group received routine care alone. The primary outcome was the severity of nausea and vomiting assessed 24 h after chemotherapy. Secondary outcomes included nausea-vomiting severity measured at baseline and at 6 h post-chemotherapy, as well as quality of life evaluated at baseline and 24 h. Between-group comparisons were conducted using non-parametric statistical methods, with effect sizes reported as Hodges-Lehmann median differences and 95% confidence intervals.

RESULTS

Baseline nausea-vomiting severity did not differ significantly between the groups. At 6 h post-chemotherapy, nausea-vomiting severity was significantly lower in the therapeutic play group compared with the control group (HL median difference = -1.00, 95% CI:-1.00 to 0.00; p = 0.002). This difference was more pronounced at 24 h (HL median difference = -1.00, 95% CI:-1.00 to -1.00; p < 0.001). Quality of life at 24 h was also significantly higher in the intervention group (HL median difference = -2.00, 95% CI:-4.00 to 0.00; p = 0.005).

CONCLUSION

Therapeutic play appears to be an effective supportive care intervention for reducing early chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting and for improving quality of life in pediatric patients.