Effects of Cartoons and Mobile Games on Preoperative Anxiety and Fear in Children With Appendicitis: An RCT

Apandisit Tanısı Ile Cerrahi Servise Yatırılan Çocuklarda Preoperatif Kaygı ve Korkunun Azaltılmasında Çizgi Film ve Mobil Oyunların Etkisi: Randomize Kontrollü Bir Araştırma

his study aims to evaluate the effects of cartoon viewing and mobile game playing on preoperative anxiety and fear levels in children aged 7-12 years who are hospitalized for appendicitis surgery. The study is designed as a randomized controlled trial with three groups: a cartoon group, a mobile game group, and a control group receiving routine care.

Children in the intervention groups will watch a cartoon or play a mobile game for 10 minutes before surgery. Anxiety and fear levels will be measured using validated scales before and after the intervention. The findings of this study are expected to contribute to atraumatic care practices by providing simple and effective non-pharmacological methods to reduce preoperative anxiety and fear in children.

Preoperative anxiety and fear are common among children undergoing surgery and may negatively affect both perioperative outcomes and postoperative recovery. Non-pharmacological, atraumatic care interventions are recommended to minimize psychological distress in pediatric patients. Among these interventions, distraction techniques such as cartoon viewing and mobile game playing are widely used due to their practicality and accessibility.

This randomized controlled trial aims to compare the effects of cartoon viewing and mobile game playing on preoperative anxiety and fear levels in children aged 7-12 years diagnosed with appendicitis and admitted to a pediatric surgery unit. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: a cartoon intervention group, a mobile game intervention group, or a control group receiving routine care.

Children in the intervention groups will receive a 10-minute distraction intervention (cartoon viewing or mobile game playing) prior to surgery, while the control group will receive standard clinical care without any additional intervention. Anxiety and fear levels will be assessed before and after the intervention using validated measurement tools.

This study is expected to provide evidence-based data on the effectiveness of simple, low-cost, and easily applicable non-pharmacological interventions in reducing preoperative anxiety and fear in children. The findings may contribute to the development of atraumatic care practices and improve pediatric surgical care outcomes.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Being hospitalized in the Pediatric Surgery Service with a diagnosis of appendicitis.
• Being between the ages of 7 and 12 years.
• Voluntary consent/assent from both the child and their parents to participate in the study.
• Absence of any visual, auditory, or cognitive problems that prevent communication.
• Not having received any analgesics before the intervention.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Refusal to participate in the study voluntarily.
• Having a condition that prevents communication due to vision, hearing, speech, or mental health status.
• Being in an agitated state or unable to cooperate.
• Having received analgesics due to pain before the study.