Relaxation-guided imagery reduces perioperative anxiety and pain in children: a randomized study.

Several studies have shown the efficacy of psychological interventions in reducing preoperative anxiety in children undergoing surgery. This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of a specific non-pharmacological technique, the relaxation-guided imagery, in reducing both preoperative anxiety and postoperative pain in a sample of 60 children (6-12 years old) undergoing minor surgery who were randomly assigned to the experimental group (N = 30) or the control group (N = 30). The first group received the relaxation-guided imagery, before the induction of general anesthesia; the second group received standard care.

Acceptability and feasibility of a therapeutic board game for children and adolescents with cancer: the Italian version of Shop Talk.

Purpose: Shop Talk is a therapeutic board game for children and adolescents with cancer, aimed at helping them talk about their disease, life, and emotions in a creative way and in a secure setting. The scope of this study was to translate Shop Talk into Italian, evaluating its acceptability, feasibility, and emotional impact.

Methods: The game board, question cards, and game instructions were translated into Italian from the original English-Spanish version.