Coping strategies used by children with cancer in chemotherapy treatment

Abstract

Objective: to identify coping strategies used by children with cancer in the face of a difficult situation before and after intervention with a board game. Method: this is an intervention study, conducted in the outpatient chemotherapy of a treatment center specialized in pediatric oncology in Mato Grosso do Sul. The sample consisted of 10 children aged 7 to 12 years undergoing chemotherapy. For data collection was applied the Kidcope scale – Brazilian children’s version, before and after the intervention with the board game “Skuba! An adventure on the seabed”. For data analysis, descriptive and inferential statistics were used. Results: the difficult situations reported by the children were of a personal nature and involved invasive procedures during treatment. The use of avoidance coping strategies, such as distraction and magical thinking, was evidenced. The children revealed, regarding the use of strategies that they tried to forget the difficult situation, through distraction activities, such as watching television or playing a game, and not being alone, thus avoiding social isolation. Conclusion: the coping strategies used by children with cancer, mediated by the intervention with the board game, were avoidance, with the predominance of distraction.