Introduction:

pediatric cancer causes a radical change in the external and internal environment of the child or adolescent affecting their development and growth.

Objective:

to synthesize the findings of nursing studies that published results in physical, psychological, social and immune health through the use of distraction strategies for care.

Methodology:

integrative literature review, qualitative descriptive and retrospective based on parameters established by Whittemore and Knafl with five stages. Inclusion criteria: scientific articles with results in physical, psychological, social and immune health through the use of distraction from nursing to pediatric population with oncological diagnosis, published in 15 scientific databases, languages: English, Portuguese and Spanish, between the years 2011-2020, with level of evidence according to Lobiondo Level I, II and III, randomized studies, with independent and separate control group, based on critical evaluation of the Joanna Briggs Institute.

Results:

the distraction strategies used in children and adolescents with oncological diagnosis included: exercise, play, massage, music and complementary therapies performed in different scenarios that obtained significant results in physical, psychological, social and immune health.

Conclusions:

with the use of distraction in the hospital or non-hospital setting, health benefits are achieved, proving to be an innovative and important intervention for nursing care in the pediatric oncological population.

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