by: victoria lawton focus: stress reduction in child patients during chemotherapy treatments...
TRANSCRIPT
BY: VICTORIA LAWTON
FOCUS: STRESS REDUCTION IN CHILD PATIENTS DURING CHEMOTHERAPY
TREATMENTS
Equipment and Software Project II
Chemotherapy
Anti-cancer therapyUsed as a sole treatment
for some types of cancer (leukemia)
Used in addition to other techniques to treat other forms of cancer
Depending on delivery method can take minutes or hours to complete
Delivery methods of intravenous chemotherapy
An injection into a vein- lasts a few minutes
A drip (intravenous infusion)- 30 minutes to a few hours
Drip or pump: 2 or more daysA pump: worn for weeks or
months
Source: www.cancerresearchuk.org
Methods of delivery
Through a tube placed in the hand or arm
Through a central line: placed into a vein in the chest via the neck or chest
Through a PICC line: line threaded through the arm into a vein in the chest
Through a portacath (port)
Source: www.cancerresearchuk.org
Diagram of a portacath
Our Situation
A child has been diagnosed with Leukemia and is scheduled to undergo chemotherapy. The chemo will be delivered through a drip (intravenous infusion) and could take a few hours to complete. The drugs will be inserted through a port in the chest so hand movement will not interfere with the treatment. The child is scared about and in need of calming/stress reducing activities to distract him from the treatment.
Chosen methods of stress reduction
Rain Bottle- Equipment Calming Jar- EquipmentWorry doll- EquipmentTablet- EquipmentBright Puzzles HD- Software
Rain Bottle
Made from rice and toothpicks
Objective: get all of the rice through the toothpicks to the bottom of the bottle
Creates a soothing “rain sound”
Directions found here: http://familylicious.com/rain-discovery-bottle/
Benefit
Keeps the child engaged and gives them a goal to reach
The child focuses on the task instead of the treatment
Focus on the present moment= Mindfulness
Encourages hand and wrist movements
Encourages brain activity
Costs from Walmart.com:Rice: $10.00 Toothpicks: $3.00
Calming Jar
Can be made with the child’s favorite color
Shake up the bottle to relieve any anger
Slowly watch as the glitter settles to the bottom
The motion of the liquid soothes the observer
Directions: http://spoonful.com/crafts/calming-glitter-bottle
Benefit
The calming bottle distracts the child’s attention from the treatment
Could be used when the child isn’t well enough to do activities
Bring peace to a very stressful event in the child’s day
Can allow their thoughts to wander away from the chemo
Glitter Glue:$2.00Glitter: $5.00Prices from Michael’s/A.C. Moore Craft Stores
Worry Doll
Made from a clothespin and thread, the child can design their doll however they want
The child tells their doll what is worrying them (ex: chemo) and then places the doll under their pillow
When the child sleeps the doll worries for them so that they can sleep peacefully
Directions for a worry doll: http://gretchenmiller.wordpress.com/2012/06/19/worry-doll-muneca-quitapenas-how-to/
Benefit
Allows the child to express their fearsThe doll stays with them during treatment
offering companionship when parents/friends may not be around
Helps the child to feel at easePromotes restful sleep which is essential for
healingThe design process can be soothing Clothespins:$2.00 Thread:$5.00 Prices from Michael’s Craft Store
Tablet
Ipad mini 16GB with Wi-FiUsed to run the Bright
Puzzles app as well as other applications
Could download movies, pictures, music and other applications to relax the child
$357.00 (includes tax and shipping) from:http://www.walmart.com/ip/22081453?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=3&adid=22222222227015979757&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=25281991956&wl4=&wl5=pla&wl6=50528389956&veh=sem
Benefit
Ipad mini is lightweight and easy to carryEasy to use even for first time usersGives the child a wide range of applications
to pick fromThey could find other coloring or puzzle apps
to keep their mind off their treatment. Can also download calming music to promote
relaxation and stress reduction
Bright Puzzles HD
Puzzle app Comes with puzzles
built inAllows you to make
pictures from your library into puzzles
Varying difficulty
Available at the app store for free: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/bright-puzzles-hd/id375608468?mt=8
Benefits
The puzzles command the child’s focusDepending on the difficulty it can keep them
busy for hoursExercises the brain’s problem solving
centers Done at their own pace instead of having
time limits that could upset or further stress out the child
Conclusion
Total Cost:$384.00 (includes supplies for crafts)
Cancer treatment is stressful but we can improve the child’s experience by keeping them as relaxed as possible while still keeping the brain active
This equipment gives the child various methods to calm themselves during treatment
The activities distract the child from the situation and allow them to focus on more fun things such as puzzles
References
http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/treatmenttypes/chemotherapy/chemotherapyprinciplesanin-depthdiscussionofthetechniquesanditsroleintreatment/chemotherapy-principles-what-is-chemo
http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-help/about-cancer/treatment/chemotherapy/having/iv-chemotherapy
http://familylicious.com/rain-discovery-bottle/ http://spoonful.com/crafts/calming-glitter-bottle http://gretchenmiller.wordpress.com/2012/06/19/worry-doll-muneca-quitapenas-how-to/ https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/bright-puzzles-hd/id375608468?mt=8