The Effect of a Drama-Based Coloring Storybook on Children's Fear, Anxiety, and Pain Management in the Perioperative Process: "Alican's Brave Journey"

This randomized controlled study aims to evaluate the effect of a drama-based coloring storybook on children's fear, anxiety, and pain management during the perioperative process. The study will be conducted with children aged 6-9 years who are scheduled for elective surgery. Participants will be randomly assigned to either an intervention group receiving the drama-based coloring storybook or a control group receiving routine preoperative care. Levels of fear, anxiety, and pain will be assessed using validated measurement tools at predefined perioperative time points. The findings are expected to contribute to evidence-based, child-centered perioperative care practices.

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Key information

Conditions

Preoperative Anxiety Anxiety Disorders Fear Mental Disorders Neurologic Manifestations PAİN Pain Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms

Age range

6 year–9 year

Sex eligibility

Male

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

About this study

This study is a randomized controlled trial designed to examine the effectiveness of a drama-based coloring storybook intervention in reducing fear and anxiety and improving pain management in children during the perioperative process. The study population consists of children aged 6-9 years undergoing elective surgical procedures. Participants will be randomly allocated to either an intervention group or a control group.

Children in the intervention group will receive a drama-based coloring storybook titled "Alican's Brave Journey", which introduces the perioperative process through age-appropriate language, illustrations, and interactive coloring activities. The storybook will be administered in the preoperative period by the researcher. The control group will receive routine preoperative care provided by the hospital. Children's fear, anxiety, and pain levels will be measured using validated assessment tools at preoperative and postoperative stages. The study aims to provide evidence on the effectiveness of drama-based educational materials in pediatric perioperative care.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Children aged 6-9 years.
Children scheduled for surgery due to circumcision.
Children who have not undergone previous surgery.
Children without vision, hearing, or speech problems.

Exclusion criteria

Children who have undergone previous surgery.
Children with vision, hearing, or speech problems.

Treatment and study plan

Drama-Based Coloring Storybook Intervention

Behavioral

Children aged 6-9 years in the experimental group receive a drama-based coloring storybook before surgery. The storybook, titled "Alican's Brave Journey," is designed to prepare children for the perioperative process through age-appropriate storytelling, coloring activities, and dramatic elements. The intervention is administered once during the preoperative period under the supervision of the researcher and aims to reduce preoperative fear, anxiety, and perceived pain.

Primary outcomes

Preoperative Anxiety Level in Children

Time frame: One hour before surgery and 10 minutes before surgery (prior to anesthesia induction)

Preoperative anxiety will be assessed using the Modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale - Short Form (mYPAS-SF), a validated observational scale consisting of 22 items across five domains: activity, speech, emotional expressivity, state of arousal, and interaction with family members. Total scores range from 23.33 to 100, with higher scores indicating greater anxiety.
Fear Level in Children

Time frame: One hour before surgery, 10 minutes before surgery (prior to anesthesia induction), and one hour after surgery

Fear levels will be assessed using the Children's Fear Scale (CFS), a validated self-report scale for children. The scale consists of five facial expressions scored from 0 to 4, with higher scores indicating greater fear.
Postoperative Pain Level in Children

Time frame: One hour after surgery

Postoperative pain will be assessed using the Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale, a validated self-report pain scale for children. The scale ranges from 0 to 5, where 0 indicates no pain and 5 indicates the worst pain. Higher scores indicate greater pain intensity

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Yusuf B Budak, PhD Student

CONTACT

[email protected]

+90 545 961 30 33

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Bingol University

Other

Collaborators

Ataturk University

Registry information

Important dates

Study start: 2026
Primary completion: 2026
Study completion: 2026
First posted: Feb 17, 2026
Registry last updated: Feb 17, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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