Preoperative AnxietyNCT07640230
Effects of Cartoons and Mobile Games on Preoperative Anxiety and Fear in Children With Appendicitis: An RCT
A study testing Cartoon-Assisted Distraction (Şüko Ameliyat Oluyor) and Mobile Game in people with Preoperative Anxiety and Children, run by Ankara City Hospital Bilkent at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial 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. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 7 to 12 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Preoperative Anxiety, Children, Appendicitis (Diagnosis)
- What is being tested?
- Cartoon-Assisted Distraction (Şüko Ameliyat Oluyor) and Mobile Game
- Type of treatment
- Pill or oral medicine, Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 69 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 10 Oct 2025to 30 May 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 7 to 12 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Child
Who may be able to join
- 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.
Who cannot join
- 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.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Turkey (Türkiye)1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Ankara Bilkent City Hospital
Ankara
Pediatric Surgery Service (4A and 4B Pediatric Surgery Service, 0312 552 60 00, ankarasehir@saglik.gov.tr
About this study
Official title: Apandisit Tanısı Ile Cerrahi Servise Yatırılan Çocuklarda Preoperatif Kaygı ve Korkunun Azaltılmasında Çizgi Film ve Mobil Oyunların Etkisi: Randomize Kontrollü Bir Araştırma
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.
Read the detailed description
Preoperative anxiety and fear are common among children undergoing surgery and may negatively affect both perioperative outcomes and postoperative recovery. Non-pharmacological, atraumatic care interventions are recommended to minimize psychological distress in pediatric patients. Among these interventions, distraction techniques such as cartoon viewing and mobile game playing are widely used due to their practicality and accessibility.
This randomized controlled trial aims to compare the effects of cartoon viewing and mobile game playing on preoperative anxiety and fear levels in children aged 7-12 years diagnosed with appendicitis and admitted to a pediatric surgery unit. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: a cartoon intervention group, a mobile game intervention group, or a control group receiving routine care.
Children in the intervention groups will receive a 10-minute distraction intervention (cartoon viewing or mobile game playing) prior to surgery, while the control group will receive standard clinical care without any additional intervention. Anxiety and fear levels will be assessed before and after the intervention using validated measurement tools.
This study is expected to provide evidence-based data on the effectiveness of simple, low-cost, and easily applicable non-pharmacological interventions in reducing preoperative anxiety and fear in children. The findings may contribute to the development of atraumatic care practices and improve pediatric surgical care outcomes.
- Conditions
- Preoperative Anxiety, Children, Appendicitis (Diagnosis), Fear
- Being tested
- Cartoon-Assisted Distraction (Şüko Ameliyat Oluyor), Mobile Game
- Medical subject headings
- Appendicitis, Disease
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Cartoon-Assisted Distraction (Şüko Ameliyat Oluyor)Behavioural
Participants will watch the cartoon titled "Şüko is Having Surgery," which explains the surgical process in child-friendly language, on an iPad Mini 6 with headphones for 10 minutes.
Mobile GameBehavioural
Children will be asked to play a game of their choice for 10 minutes on a tablet from among games selected according to their age group and PEGI standards (Head Ball 2, Subway Surfers, and Magic Tiles 3).
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Control Group | No intervention | Participants in this group will receive standard hospital care and routine preoperative preparation without any additional digital distraction interventions. |
| Cartoon Group | Experimental | Participants in this group will be exposed to a cartoon-assisted distraction intervention designed to explain the surgical process and reduce anxiety before surgery. Receives: Behavioral: Cartoon-Assisted Distraction (Şüko Ameliyat Oluyor) |
| Mobile Game Group | Experimental | Participants in this group will engage in age-appropriate mobile games on a tablet computer as a digital distraction intervention prior to their surgical procedure. Receives: Behavioral: Mobile Game |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Preoperative Anxiety Level
The Modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale (m-YPAS) will be used. This scale provides an observational assessment across five categories (activity, emotional expressivity, state of arousal, vocalization, and use of parents). Total scores range from 5 to 22, with higher scores indicating higher levels of anxiety.
Measured: Baseline (upon admission to the pediatric surgery inpatient unit prior to the intervention) and post-intervention (immediately before transfer to the operating room).
Children's Fear Level
The Children's Fear Scale (CFS) will be used. This scale consists of five different facial expressions scored between 0 and 4. A score of 0 indicates "no anxiety/fear," whereas a score of 4 indicates "the highest level of fear."
Measured: Baseline (upon admission to the pediatric surgery inpatient unit prior to the intervention) and post-intervention (immediately before transfer to the operating room).
Secondary outcomes (3)
Heart Rate
The participants' heart rate will be measured to evaluate physiological stability. The values will be recorded in beats per minute (bpm).
Measured: Measured at two time points: baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately post-intervention.
Blood Pressure
The participants' systolic and diastolic blood pressure values will be measured. The values will be recorded in millimeters of mercury (mmHg).
Measured: Measured at two time points: baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately post-intervention.
Oxygen Saturation
The participants' peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) levels will be monitored. The values will be recorded as a percentage (%).
Measured: Measured at two time points: baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately post-intervention.
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted10 Jun 2026
- Study start10 Oct 2025
- Primary completion30 May 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion30 May 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Preoperative AnxietyStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Ankara City Hospital BilkentThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 69 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Ankara City Hospital Bilkent
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Ankara Yildirim Beyazıt University
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07640230
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- TABED 1/1735/2025
- Other IDs
- TYL-2026-2917
- Status last verified
- Jun 2026
- First submitted
- 6 May 2026
- Last updated
- 10 Jun 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 10 Jun 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Apandisit Tanısı Ile Cerrahi Servise Yatırılan Çocuklarda Preoperatif Kaygı ve Korkunun Azaltılmasında Çizgi Film ve Mobil Oyunların Etkisi: Randomize Kontrollü Bir Araştırma
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07640230
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- TABED 1/1735/2025
- Conditions
- Preoperative Anxiety, Children, Appendicitis (Diagnosis), Fear
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 69 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Ankara City Hospital BilkentUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Ankara Yildirim Beyazıt University
- Study start
- 10 Oct 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 30 May 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 30 May 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 10 Jun 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
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.
Detailed description
Preoperative anxiety and fear are common among children undergoing surgery and may negatively affect both perioperative outcomes and postoperative recovery. Non-pharmacological, atraumatic care interventions are recommended to minimize psychological distress in pediatric patients. Among these interventions, distraction techniques such as cartoon viewing and mobile game playing are widely used due to their practicality and accessibility.
This randomized controlled trial aims to compare the effects of cartoon viewing and mobile game playing on preoperative anxiety and fear levels in children aged 7-12 years diagnosed with appendicitis and admitted to a pediatric surgery unit. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: a cartoon intervention group, a mobile game intervention group, or a control group receiving routine care.
Children in the intervention groups will receive a 10-minute distraction intervention (cartoon viewing or mobile game playing) prior to surgery, while the control group will receive standard clinical care without any additional intervention. Anxiety and fear levels will be assessed before and after the intervention using validated measurement tools.
This study is expected to provide evidence-based data on the effectiveness of simple, low-cost, and easily applicable non-pharmacological interventions in reducing preoperative anxiety and fear in children. The findings may contribute to the development of atraumatic care practices and improve pediatric surgical care outcomes.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 3
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Control Group | No intervention | –Participants in this group will receive standard hospital care and routine preoperative preparation without any additional digital distraction interventions. |
| Cartoon Group | Experimental | Behavioral: Cartoon-Assisted Distraction (Şüko Ameliyat Oluyor)Participants in this group will be exposed to a cartoon-assisted distraction intervention designed to explain the surgical process and reduce anxiety before surgery. |
| Mobile Game Group | Experimental | Behavioral: Mobile GameParticipants in this group will engage in age-appropriate mobile games on a tablet computer as a digital distraction intervention prior to their surgical procedure. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 7 to 12 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Child
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- 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.
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- 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.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Cartoon-Assisted Distraction (Şüko Ameliyat Oluyor)Participants will watch the cartoon titled "Şüko is Having Surgery," which explains the surgical process in child-friendly language, on an iPad Mini 6 with headphones for 10 minutes. | Behavioural | Cartoon Group |
| Mobile GameChildren will be asked to play a game of their choice for 10 minutes on a tablet from among games selected according to their age group and PEGI standards (Head Ball 2, Subway Surfers, and Magic Tiles 3). | Behavioural | Mobile Game Group |
Primary outcome
Preoperative Anxiety Level
Time frame: Baseline (upon admission to the pediatric surgery inpatient unit prior to the intervention) and post-intervention (immediately before transfer to the operating room).
The Modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale (m-YPAS) will be used. This scale provides an observational assessment across five categories (activity, emotional expressivity, state of arousal, vocalization, and use of parents). Total scores range from 5 to 22, with higher scores indicating higher levels of anxiety.
Children's Fear Level
Time frame: Baseline (upon admission to the pediatric surgery inpatient unit prior to the intervention) and post-intervention (immediately before transfer to the operating room).
The Children's Fear Scale (CFS) will be used. This scale consists of five different facial expressions scored between 0 and 4. A score of 0 indicates "no anxiety/fear," whereas a score of 4 indicates "the highest level of fear."
3 secondary outcomes
Heart Rate
Time frame: Measured at two time points: baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately post-intervention.
Blood Pressure
Time frame: Measured at two time points: baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately post-intervention.
Oxygen Saturation
Time frame: Measured at two time points: baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately post-intervention.
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 10 Jun 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Cartoon-Assisted Distraction (Şüko Ameliyat Oluyor) and Mobile Game in people with Preoperative Anxiety and Children, run by Ankara City Hospital Bilkent at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 10 Jun 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Eda Emine Yetkin, MSc Student (+905 30 137 58 79, edaayetkinn@outlook.com), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Preoperative Anxiety Level (time frame: Baseline (upon admission to the pediatric surgery inpatient unit prior to the intervention) and post-intervention (immediately before transfer to the operating room).). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 10 Jun 2026.