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