An experimental evaluation of a model child life program.
A model child life program for hospitalized children between the ages of 3 and 13 was systematically developed and tested on a large number of stress, coping, adjustment, and surgical recovery variables. The results indicated that children who participated in the experimental program (N = 68) scored significantly better on 18 of the 21 outcome variables than did control children (N = 160) who did not participate in a full child life program. As in previous research and within the limitations of a quasiexperimental design, the results suggest that this type of systematic child life care has a significant, positive impact on hospitalized children.
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001130:Arizona; D002648:Child; D002673:Child, Hospitalized / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006743:Hospital Bed Capacity, under 100; D006801:Humans; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012944:Social Support