The effect of projector kaleidoscope and cartoon film viewing in the operating room on anxiety, fear and pain in children aged 4-10 years to undergo day surgery

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of projector kaleidoscope and watching cartoons in the operating room on anxiety, fear and pain in children undergoing day surgery. The population of the study consisted of children aged 4-10 years who met the inclusion criteria between May-November 2024, who were admitted to the paediatric surgery service and who would undergo day surgery. A total of 90 children (control group 30 children, projector kaleidoscope 30 children, cartoon 30 children) were included in the sample of the study. The children in the treatment groups were shown projector kaleidoscope and cartoon films just before the surgical procedure. Descriptive Information Form, Child Anxiety-Situation Scale, Child Fear Scale, Wong Baker Pain Scale and Vital Sign Follow-up Form were used to collect the data. In the preoperative period, there was no difference between the anxiety and fear scores of the children between the groups (p>0.05). In the postoperative period, children a significant difference was found between the anxiety and fear scores between the groups (p<0.05). In the agreement of the anxiety scores of the child and the observer nurse, the preoperative (r=0.815, p<0.05) and postoperative (r=0.911, p<0.05) agreement was statistically significant. In the agreement of the fear scores of the child and the observer nurse, it is seen that the preoperative (r=0.888, p<0.05) and postoperative (r=0.802, p<0.05) agreement is statistically significant. In addition, a statistically significant difference was found between the pain scores of the children in the postoperative period (p<0.05). As a result of the study, it was seen that the projector kaleidoscope display and cartoon film watching method applied before the surgery were effective in reducing the anxiety and fear levels experienced by the children during the surgery process. In addition, it was found that these two methods applied before surgery reduced the pain levels experienced by children after surgery. It is recommended that visual and auditory stimuli that provide diversion of attention in operating rooms should be made widespread and become standard practice