Abstract

Introduction: Leukemiais the most common type of childhood cancer seen in India.The use of non-pharmacological intervention like puppet therapy having greater implication in the reduction of anxiety also helps the children to cope with the situation.The study was to assess the anxiety level on children suffering from leukaemia and determine the effect of puppet therapy on anxiety.
 
Methodology: A quasi-experimental non-randomized controlled group study design was undertaken in SCB and Acharya Harihar Regional Cancer Centre, Cuttack. Among all the children admitted with leukaemia and fulfil the inclusion criteria, 40 children were selected conveniently and assigned equally in both the groups. The standardised Hamilton Anxiety scale was used to measure the anxiety by interviewing, observation and assessment technique. This scale is a self-report measure of anxiety consist of 14 items which were scored as ≤17 for mild, 18-24 for moderate, 25-30  as severe. The puppetry was shown to the sample for 5 days with 15 minutes play by using hand puppets, stick puppets and readymade finger puppets.