The effect of playing digital games and watching cartoons on children's pain, fear and anxiety levels during suturing in pediatric emergency unit

The study was conducted to investigate the effects of playing digital games and watching cartoons on pain, fear, and anxiety levels in children during suture removal in a pediatric emergency unit. It was conducted with 90 children between the ages of 5 and 10 who came to Tarsus State Hospital Emergency Service Trauma Unit for suture removal between July 2024 and April 2025; Group 1: digital games (30 children), Group 2: cartoons (30 children), and Group 3: control (30 children). Children in the intervention groups played digital games and watched cartoons immediately before the suture removal procedure. "Introductory Information Form", "Child Fear Scale", "Wong Baker Pain Scale", "Child Anxiety Scale-State Scale (CAS-D)" and "Vital Signs Follow-up Form" were used to collect data. When examined in terms of pain change scores, it was determined that there were significant differences between the groups according to the evaluations of the child, parent, and nurse. In terms of child pain score change, the change in pain scores of children in the control group (0.717±1.381) was found to be significantly higher than that of children who played digital games (-0.833±1.464) and watched cartoons (-0.483±1.669) (F=8.700, p=0.000; 3>1.2). In terms of child fear score change, the change scores in the control group (-1.733±2.815) were found to be significantly different from that of children who played digital games (-4.300±2.769) and watched cartoons (-2.000±3.129) (F=7.061, p=0.001; 3>1.2). A similar trend was observed in anxiety change scores. The change in child anxiety change in the control group (-1.633±2.526) was significantly different from children playing digital games (-4.700±3.019) and children watching cartoons (-1.833±3.435) (F=9.708, p=0.000; 3>1.2). The study found playing digital games is the best way to reduce pain, fear and anxiety during suture removal. So it should be used in place of other distraction methods during paediatric emergency procedures. Keywords: Emergency department, trauma, emergency department nurse, suture removal