Educational cartoon to reduce preoperative anxiety in children
Effect of Watching a Preoperative Educational Cartoon on Anxiety in Children Aged 7 to 12 Years Undergoing Elective Procedures: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial
This trial will try a short educational cartoon, a favorite distractor cartoon, or standard verbal information to see which best reduces anxiety in children aged 7 to 12 before procedures under general anesthesia.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 159 (estimated) |
| Ages | 7 Years to 12 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Gulhane School of Medicine Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Ankara) |
| Trial ID | NCT07495878 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This single-center, prospective randomized controlled trial will enroll 159 children aged 7–12 undergoing elective procedures under general anesthesia and randomize them equally to an educational cartoon, a child-preferred distractor cartoon, or standard verbal information. Video viewing lasts about 8–10 minutes in the preoperative waiting area using the same device and environmental conditions, and routine verbal information is provided according to group assignment. The primary outcome is preoperative anxiety measured by the Modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale (mYPAS) after the intervention and before induction, with secondary measures including the APAIS and perioperative behavior and cooperation. Children with prior anesthesia, developmental or sensory impairments, or neurologic/psychiatric disease are excluded from participation.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are children aged 7–12 years with ASA physical status I–II who are scheduled for elective procedures under general anesthesia and whose parents provide written consent and who give verbal assent.
Not a fit: Children with developmental delay, cognitive or sensory impairments, prior anesthesia experience, or a history of neurologic or psychiatric disease are excluded and may not receive benefit from this intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the educational cartoon could offer a simple, low-cost way to lower children's preoperative anxiety and improve cooperation and the perioperative experience.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research on preoperative preparation and distraction (videos, games, and tours) has shown generally positive but mixed effects on reducing pediatric preoperative anxiety.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Children aged 7 to 12 years * Scheduled for an elective procedure under general anesthesia * American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I-II * Willingness of both the child and the parent to participate * Written informed consent from the parent and verbal assent from the child Exclusion Criteria: * History of neurological or psychiatric disease * Developmental delay or cognitive impairment * Previous anesthesia experience * Visual or hearing impairment that would prevent watching the video * Inability to obtain parental consent or refusal of participation by the child
Where this trial is running
Ankara
- University of Health Sciences Gulhane Training and Research Hospital — Ankara, Turkey (Türkiye) (Recruiting)
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.