Quiogue, Anna Margarita Rufina. (2003) The Effects of the Preparation Phase of the Child Life Program Among Chronically-Ill Children.
The world of chronically-ill school-age children was studied, and an exploration of the effects of the Preparation Phase of the Child Program was embarked on. The level of anxiety, values, fears and hopes, as well the view of illness of chronically-ill school-age patients were investigated using the Child Drawing: Hospital Projective Tool and Structured Interviews. This research was mainly exploratory and clinical-descriptive in nature. It was found that the anxiety experienced by chronically-ill school-age children, the values, fears, and hopes and the views of illness, are influenced by various factors, specifically, the length of exposure to illness and hospitalization, the actual physical suffering and discomfort as a result of illness, the developmental level and maturity of the child patient as well as hospital setting and type of cancer. More important, it was established that the implementation of the Preparation Phase of the Child Life Program indeed decreased the anxiety experienced as a result of exposure to the Preparation Phase of the Child Life Program, thereby, recognizing and acknowledging the benefits and the need of a Child Life Program in the Philippines today.