Effects of Cartoons and Mobile Games on Preoperative Anxiety and Fear in Children With Appendicit… (NCT07640230) | Clinical Trial Compass
RecruitingNot Applicable
Effects of Cartoons and Mobile Games on Preoperative Anxiety and Fear in Children With Appendicitis: An RCT
Turkey (Türkiye)69 participantsStarted 2025-10-10
Plain-language summary
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.
Who can participate
Age range
7 Years – 12 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:
* 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.
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.
1My child needs surgery for appendicitis and is really scared — could watching cartoons or playing mobile games before the procedure actually help reduce their anxiety and fear, or is this still being studied and not yet proven to work?
2Since this trial is actively recruiting right now, is my child's upcoming appendicitis surgery happening at a location where we could participate, and what would that actually look like on the day of the procedure?
3What would my child be asked to do differently if they joined this study — would they just watch cartoons or play a game as they normally might, or are there extra assessments or steps that could add stress on an already difficult day?
4If we don't join this trial, what does your team currently do to help children manage fear and anxiety before emergency surgery like this, and is that standard approach just as good?
5Since this is listed as Phase NA — meaning it's studying a non-drug behavioral approach — what do we know so far about whether distractions like games or cartoons are safe and appropriate for a child who is anxious and about to have surgery for appendicitis?
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
1
Preoperative Anxiety Level
Timeframe: Baseline (upon admission to the pediatric surgery inpatient unit prior to the intervention) and post-intervention (immediately before transfer to the operating room).
2
Children's Fear Level
Timeframe: Baseline (upon admission to the pediatric surgery inpatient unit prior to the intervention) and post-intervention (immediately before transfer to the operating room).