CompletedNot Applicable

The Effect of Cartoon Character-Printed Band Use During Burn Dressing on Fear, Stress, Pain, and Physiological Parameters in Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Turkey (Türkiye)42 participantsStarted 2025-08-12

Plain-language summary

This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effect of using cartoon character-printed medical bands during burn dressing procedures on children's fear, stress, pain, and physiological parameters. Burn dressing is often a distressing and painful procedure for pediatric patients, which may lead to increased anxiety, physiological instability, and negative treatment experiences. In this study, child-friendly cartoon-printed adhesive bands are used as a non-pharmacological intervention to provide distraction and emotional comfort during burn dressing. By incorporating familiar and visually engaging designs, the intervention seeks to reduce children's perception of pain, alleviate stress, and improve physiological stability (heart rate, oxygen saturation, and respiratory rate) during the procedure. Participants will include children aged 7-11 years receiving burn care in a pediatric burn unit. They will be randomly assigned to either the intervention group (cartoon-printed band use) or the control group (standard plain band use). Fear, pain, and stress will be assessed using validated scales before, during, and after the dressing procedure. Physiological parameters will be measured using a pulse oximeter. The study is expected to contribute to the development of child-centered, non-pharmacological methods that make medical procedures less stressful and more tolerable for pediatric patients. Results may guide the design of more comforting and engaging treatment environments in pediatric burn care.

Who can participate

Age range

6 Years – 11 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Children aged 6 to 11 years at the time of enrollment. * Hospitalized children diagnosed with superficial partial-thickness or deep partial-thickness burns (second-degree burns). * Total Burned Body Surface Area (TBSA) ≤ 10%, calculated using the Rule of Nines or Lund-Browder chart. * Burn location limited to upper extremities, lower extremities, or trunk. * Scheduled to undergo routine burn dressing procedures in the pediatric ward. * Ability of the child to communicate pain and anxiety verbally. * Written informed consent obtained from parent or legal guardian, and assent from the child when appropriate. Exclusion Criteria: * Children with full-thickness (third-degree) or fourth-degree burns. * Burns involving the face, scalp, neck, or genital region. * TBSA \> 10%. * Presence of cognitive impairment, developmental delay, or neurological disorder that may interfere with outcome assessment. * Presence of chronic pain conditions or regular use of analgesics unrelated to burn treatment. * Initial burn dressing performed in an intensive care unit (ICU). * Refusal of the child or parent/legal guardian to participate.

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Fear Level Assessed by the Children's Fear Scale

Timeframe: Baseline (immediately before burn dressing) and immediately after burn dressing procedure

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07313735

SponsorYuzuncu Yil University

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2026-03-12

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Burns trials