Play therapy may calm young heart patients before surgery

NCT ID NCT07643168

Not yet recruiting Symptom relief Sponsor: First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study tests whether structured play activities, done with a parent, can reduce anxiety in children with congenital heart disease before their surgery. About 204 children aged 0-12 will be randomly assigned to either receive therapeutic play plus standard care, or standard care alone. Researchers will measure anxiety using questionnaires, vital signs, and stress hormone levels.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: therapeutic play (structured, age-appropriate play activities involving parent-child interaction)
What this could lead to: If it works, this could provide a simple, drug-free way to ease anxiety in children with heart disease before surgery.
What could go wrong: This is a small, early-stage trial in one country, so results may not apply everywhere. The play intervention may not reduce anxiety more than standard care.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

anxiety disorder congenital heart disease

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE (CHD)

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