Creating Comfort in Care: The Role of a Dedicated Play Area in Easing Anxiety for Pediatric Anesthesia Patients in Radiation Oncology

Introduction: The journey through radiation therapy can be overwhelming for children, especially when anesthesia is involved. Recognizing the emotional challenges faced by young patients and their families, the Radiation Oncology Department took a compassionate approach to step forward, transforming a small corner into a colorful, welcoming play area designed to replace fear with comfort. This initiative aims to foster a child-centered environment that reduces tantrums and anxiety, enhances cooperation, and brings emotional ease before anesthesia and treatment procedures.

Methodology: A vibrant play space was thoughtfully developed, featuring toys, books, art, and cheerful designs that engage children’s curiosity and imagination. Observations were gathered from the clinical team and parents to assess changes in behavior, emotional response, and readiness for treatment.

Results: The transformation was remarkable. Children who once approached treatment rooms with apprehension were now calmer and more cooperative. Parents expressed relief and gratitude, noting reduced distress and improved confidence in their child’s treatment experience. The initiative also uplifted the morale of staff, reinforcing the power of compassionate care.

Conclusion: The creation of a play area within the Radiation Oncology Department demonstrates how a small, heartfelt initiative can make a profound difference in pediatric cancer care. By blending empathy with innovation, the department succeeded in transforming clinical preparation into a space of comfort, joy, and healing, reminding us that treatment begins not only with medicine but with care that touches the heart.

Conflict of interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Funding: This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

License: © Author(s) 2026. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, and unrestricted adaptation and reuse, including for commercial purposes, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made.

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