The Effect of Cartoons Watched Before Surgery on Children's Fear Level

Plain-language summary

This study was conducted as a randomized controlled experimental study to determine the effect of cartoon in reducing pre-operative fear in children aged 4-10 years who came to the operating room. The data of the study were obtained from children between 4-10 years old who came to Mersin University Hospital Operating Room Unit between 1 July and 30 August 2020. The sample size was determined as a total of 116 children, including 58 children for each group. "Observation Form, Children's Fear Scale (CFS), Tablet Computer, Stopwatch" was used for data collection. The data were evaluated using percentage, mean, standard deviation, chi-square, t test, Anova and Tukey advanced analysis test. Cartoons group; When the children came to the operating room waiting room, the first stopwatch was started as soon as they entered the room to determine the length of stay in the waiting room, and it was turned off while they were entering the operating room with the anesthesiologist. Thus, the total length of stay in the room was determined and recorded. The second stopwatch was started as soon as the child began to cry, and was turned off when the crying stopped. Thus, the crying time of each child was also evaluated. After each parent signed the Informed Consent Form, the Interview and Observation Form was filled. Then the child's heart rate was measured and recorded. The child's fear level was evaluated separately by the child, parent and observer via CFS and recorded in the data collection form. After the initial assessment was completed, the child was asked if he wanted to watch cartoons. "Snow Queen" for girls who want to watch cartoons and "Spider-Man" cartoons for boys started to be watched by tablet. The period of watching cartoons lasted until the child left the waiting room. The heart rate was measured just before the child left the waiting room at the time of surgery. The level of fear was evaluated separately by the child, parent and observer via CFS and recorded in the form. Then, the child was taken to the operating room with the anesthesiologist and observer. Parents are separated from their children in the waiting room. After the child who came to the operating room was taken to the operating table, the pulse rate and the level of fear were evaluated and recorded by the observer via CFS. Control group: All processing steps were carried out similarly to the cartoon group. In this group, the option of playing toys was offered instead of cartoons.

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