The Effect of Playing With a Toy Nebulizer and Watching Cartoons on the Fear and Anxiety on Children

This research was planned as a randomized controlled experimental type to determine the effect of playing with a toy nebulizer and watching cartoons on children's fear and physiological parameters in 3-6 year old children who were administered inhaler medication. The population of the study, planned as a randomized controlled experimental study, will consist of 4-6 year old children who apply to Tarsus State Hospital pediatric services and receive inhaler treatment. According to the power analysis performed for the sample size, the power of the sample was calculated with the G*Power 3.1 program, in line with the literature. While the amount of Type I error was 0.05 and the power of the test was 0.95 (α= 0.05, 1-β= 0.95), the minimal sample size was calculated as 105 children (35 children in each group). Considering the possible losses from the sample for any reason during the study period, it was planned to increase the number of samples by 10% and include 38 children in the study and control groups. Child Information Form, Fear Assessment Scale and Child Anxiety Scale-State Scale will be used to collect data.

Data collection In the study, children treated in pediatric emergency departments and administered inhaler medication will first be evaluated in terms of sampling criteria, and children who do not meet the criteria will be excluded from the study. The nurse researcher is the one who collects the data, evaluates it with the Fear and Anxiety Scale, and evaluates the physiological parameters.

Data analyses The data obtained in the study were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences for Windows 25.0 program. Descriptive statistical methods (number, percentage, min-max values, mean and standard deviation) will be used when evaluating the data. The suitability of the data used to normal distribution will be checked with kurtosis and skewness values. In normally distributed data, when comparing quantitative data, an independent t-test will be used for the difference between two independent groups, and when comparing more than two dependent groups, analysis of variance will be applied in repeated measurements, and in case of a difference, Bonferroni will be used to find the group that makes the difference. In comparing quantitative data with non-normally distributed data, the Mann-Whitney U test will be applied for the difference between two independent groups, and in comparing more than two dependent groups, the Friedman test will be applied, and in case of a difference, the corrected Bonferroni will be used to find the group that makes the difference. Chi-square analysis will be applied to test the relationship between categorical variables. Cohen's Kappa Test will be applied in interobserver agreement analysis.

Inclusion criteria

• The child is between 4 and 6 years old,
• No communication problems (visual/auditory/mental),
• Oxygen saturation is 90% or above,
• The child does not have a disease that may affect his/her life,
• Parent and child volunteering to participate in the research.

Exclusion criteria

• Nebul drug administration
• The child has visual, hearing, and mental disabilities,
• Having taken medication with a nebulizer before