title: Puppets as a strategy for communication with Brazilian children with cancer.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Ribeirao Preto College of Nursing, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, Brazil.
authors.forename: Amanda Mota Pacciulio
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Sposito
authors.affiliation: Université du Québec en Outaouais, Outaouais, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Francine
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: de Montigny
authors.affiliation: Ribeirao Preto College of Nursing, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, Brazil.
authors.forename: Valéria de Cássia
authors.initials: Vde C
authors.lastname: Sparapani
authors.affiliation: Ribeirao Preto College of Nursing, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, Brazil.
authors.forename: Regina Aparecida Garcia de
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.affiliation: Ribeirao Preto College of Nursing, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernanda Machado
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Silva-Rodrigues
authors.affiliation: Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luzia Iara
authors.initials: LI
authors.lastname: Pfeifer
authors.affiliation: Ribeirao Preto College of Nursing, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lucila Castanheira
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Nascimento
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil; D002648:Child; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D010989:Play Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D010988:Play and Playthings; D036301:Qualitative Research; D035844:Researcher-Subject Relations
keywords: art therapy; cancer; child; communication; games and toys; play; puppets; qualitative research