Playfulness in the hospital environment through extension activity developed in the Federal University of Alfenas, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil

experience report

Abstract

This experience report aims to describe the experiences of students from Nursing, Biomedicine, Medicine, Pharmacy, Dentistry, and Physiotherapy Courses, of the Federal University of Alfenas (UNIFAL-MG), State of Minas Gerais, Brazil, as clown doctors who are members of the extension project called “Taking Care of People: playful activities in minimizing tensions in the hospital environment and teaching self-care”. This extension action is an activity linked to the Program Chronic Conditions: Innovative Care. Combining playfulness with the theory of self-care, the project has been reaching patients, family members, caregivers and health professionals since 1998 in a hospital institution affiliated with the UNIFAL. However, in 2020, due to the COVID-19, the extension project sees the need to renew its activities and has, since then, reached a new audience through social networks. Working with recreational activities both in the hospital and in the virtual environment, allows students to contribute to the well-being of the community, in addition to developing their role in society. In addition, the extension project has a fundamental role in stimulating the self-care of student team members, with the aim of enhancing self-esteem and offering support during an academic trajectory.