Effectiveness of puppet play therapy in reducing anxiety among hospitalized children aged 6-12 years in a selected hospital, Coimbatore

Background: Hospitalization is a stressful experience for children, often leading to significant anxiety due to unfamiliar environments, separation from family, and invasive procedures. Non-pharmacological interventions such as play therapy are increasingly used to alleviate psychological distress. Puppet play therapy is a creative and child-friendly approach that may help reduce anxiety among hospitalized children. Methods: A quantitative pre-experimental one-group pretest-posttest design was conducted among 60 hospitalized children aged 6-12 years in a selected hospital in Coimbatore. Participants were selected using non-probability convenience sampling. Anxiety levels were assessed using Spence Children’s Anxiety Scale before and after the intervention. Puppet play therapy was administered for 10-20 minutes. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics including paired t-test and chi-square test. Results: The pretest mean anxiety score was 41.65±7.97, which decreased to 21.51±6.30 in posttest, with a mean difference of 20.13. The paired t-test value (t = 33.734, p< 0.001) indicated a statistically significant reduction in anxiety. Posttest findings showed 61.67% of children had mild anxiety and 28.33% had no anxiety. Significant associations were found between anxiety levels and demographic variables such as religion and family income. Conclusion: Puppet play therapy is an effective, simple, and non-invasive intervention for reducing anxiety among hospitalized children. It can be incorporated into pediatric nursing care to improve emotional well-being.