Effect of watching cartoon during IV treatment on anxiety and fear levels in children: randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Objective: The study was conducted as a randomized controlled trial to determine the effect of watching cartoon during treatment on anxiety and fear in children. Methods: The study was carried out in the pediatric service of a maternity and children diseases hospital between October-November 2019. A total of 92 children (43 in the cartoon group and 49 in the control group) were included in the study. The results of the study were obtained using Socio-Demographic Characteristics Form, Children’s State Anxiety Scale, and Children’s Fear Scale. The children in the cartoon group watched their favourite cartoon during treatment. No distracting method was applied to the children in the control group during their routine treatment. Anxiety and fear levels in children in the cartoon and control groups were evaluated before and during intravenous treatment. Gender variable was compared using the Chi-square test; whereas age, anxiety and fear variables were compared using the independent sample t test between groups and paired sample t test within group. Significance was evaluated at the level of p< .05. Results: It was found that there was a statistically significant difference between anxiety mean scores of both groups during the IV treatment (p= .001). In all evaluations (children, parent and researcher), it was determined that mean scores of fear during the IV treatment were higher in children in the control group compared to children in the cartoon group (p= .001). Watching cartoon during IV treatment is effective on reducing anxiety and fear in children. Conclusion: Fear and anxiety levels in children can be reduced through watching cartoon during medical procedures. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04127097.