The use of nebulizers in children is one of the most common noninvasive methods used in respiratory system diseases. This application can cause anxiety and stress in children in hospital environments, especially in emergency departments. Our aim in this study is to evaluate the effect of pet therapy on anxiety, pulse and saturation in children between the ages of 3-6 who receive nebulizer treatment in units such as emergency departments.

With nebulizer drug application, drugs such as bronchodilators, antibiotics, anticholinergics, corticosteroids are delivered directly to the lungs by inhalation. In nebulizer drug applications, the amount of drug, the method of administration, the duration, and the position of the patient are the most important criteria to be followed in order to administer the drug appropriately and effectively. Any disruption in any of these applications negatively affects the treatment process. Stress and anxiety experienced during nebulizer treatment in children can cause undesirable results in vital signs such as pulse. Treatment can therefore cause disruption. Although this application does not cause pain, being in a hospital environment and being an intervention applied by health professionals can cause anxiety in children. In addition, symptoms such as tachycardia are observed in children with some drugs administered via nebulizer. Many animal applications are used in animal-assisted therapies and it is emphasized that the stress of child patients decreases with these methods. In nebulizer drug use, the anxiety experienced by children due to both the mask and drug interactions applied in drug treatment and the changes in vital signs they encounter due to drug interactions have been tried to be supported with changing applications in the literature. However, when we look at the literature, we have not found any studies using pet therapy during nebulizer use.

• Receiving inhalation therapy as an outpatient in the emergency department
• Between 3 and 6 years of age (determined as the age range in which children can communicate visually and emotionally)
• Parents must have received nebulizer training before the procedure/nurse-assisted treatment if this is the first procedure
• No visual impairment (for communication in pet therapy)
• No congenital cardiac disease (for homogeneous data in pulse and SpO2 monitoring)
• Agreeing to participate in the study

Exclusion criteria for the study:

• Children under 3 and over 6
• Parents and children who do not agree to participate in the study

This study will be conducted on 3-6 year old children who were admitted to a pediatric emergency unit of a training and research hospital with any respiratory distress and were recommended nebule therapy.

Since this study is considered to be forward-looking, it is considered to be shared for now.