Anxiety, Fear
Conditions
Keywords
children, Pediatric ECG, Undersea-themed cover, Distraction technique, Pediatric emergency
Brief summary
Aims: To evaluate the impact of an undersea-themed examination table cover (UTETC) designed for electrocardiography (ECG) procedures on fear and anxiety levels in children. Background: Children may experience fear and anxiety not only during painful procedures but also during painless interventions such as ECG. The unfamiliar environment, equipment, and separation from caregivers can contribute to emotional distress. Design: This is a single-blind, randomized controlled trial. Methods: The study was conducted with 80 children aged 3-12 years who underwent ECG procedures in a pediatric emergency department. Participants were randomly assigned to either the control group (n = 40) or the intervention group (n = 40) using block randomization. Data were collected using the Child Fear Scale and the Children's Emotional Manifestation Scale. Relevance to Clinical Practice: The UTETC represents a potential non-pharmacological intervention aimed at improving the emotional comfort of children during ECG procedures.
Interventions
OTHERdistraciton technices
UTETC is a distraction method used during ECG procedures.
Sponsors
Ankara University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)
Masking description
The outcomes were assessed by two independent nurses who were blinded to group assignments.
Intervention model description
Participants were stratified by age and gender, and then assigned to the intervention or control group using block randomization.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
3 Years to 12 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Children aged 3 to 12 years * Presented to the hospital with chest pain * No previous history of heart disease * Chest pain with a non-cardiac etiology (e.g., gastrointestinal disorders) * Undergoing their first ECG
Exclusion criteria
-Reported fear of water, being underwater, or swimming
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| fear | 2 minutes before the ECG procedure, at the moment the ECG recording button is pressed, and 2 minutes after the ECG procedure | Children's fear levels will be assessed using the Children's Fear Scale (CFS), which consists of five faces ranging from 0 (no fear) to 4 (extreme fear). Higher scores indicate higher levels of perceived fear. |
| anxiety | 2 minutes before the ECG procedure, at the moment the ECG recording button is pressed, and 2 minutes after the ECG procedure | Anxiety will be assessed using the Children's Emotional Manifestation Scale (CEMS), which evaluates five categories of observable emotional behavior. Each item is scored from 1 to 5, with total scores ranging from 5 to 25. Higher scores indicate higher levels of observed anxiety. |
Countries
Turkey (Türkiye)
Outcome results
None listed