Effectiveness of the foundation course on therapeutic play in Bangladesh

Abstract

The study aimed to investigate the cultural efficacy of Foundation Courses on Therapeutic Play (FCTP) as well as to explore the scopes and barriers in using play therapy in Bangladeshi context through assessing the attitudes, knowledge, and skills of the study participants. Fifty participants having prior experience of dealing with children were chosen purposively for enrolment in the course and involvement in the study. The questionnaire developed by Kao and Landreth (1997) was used to examine participants' attitudes, knowledge, and skills relevant to play therapy during the data collection phase. The results on all three subscales (Attitude, Knowledge, and Skills) went up from the pre-test to the post-test, and the difference was statistically significant with a notable effect size. The barriers and scope of incorporating therapeutic play in the workplace is being studied from the participants with the help of follow-up form. The investigator also kept a reflective journal throughout the course to gain a deeper grasp of the viewpoints and emotions held by both the participants and the investigator regarding the course. Respondents praised the pattern of the course, found it interesting and informative, and felt that it met their needs. Furthermore, they perceived the course to be beneficial in terms of improving their comprehension, expertise, and capabilities. The findings of the study emphasize the need to improve the dissemination of therapeutic play training in a number of contexts in order to make play therapy available to a broader demographic.