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Completed

NCT Number: NCT07082907

Use Of Pet Therapy In Chıldren Receıvıng Nebulızer Treatment

The use of nebulizers in children is one of the most common noninvasive methods used in respiratory system diseases. This application can cause anxiety and stress in children in hospital environments, especially in emergency departments. Our aim in this study is to evaluate the effect of pet therapy on anxiety, pulse and saturation in children between the ages of 3-6 who receive nebulizer treatment in units such as emergency departments.

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Key information

Age range

3 year–6 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University Training and Research Hospital

Rize, Centre, 53100, Turkey (Türkiye)

About this study

With nebulizer drug application, drugs such as bronchodilators, antibiotics, anticholinergics, corticosteroids are delivered directly to the lungs by inhalation. In nebulizer drug applications, the amount of drug, the method of administration, the duration, and the position of the patient are the most important criteria to be followed in order to administer the drug appropriately and effectively. Any disruption in any of these applications negatively affects the treatment process. Stress and anxiety experienced during nebulizer treatment in children can cause undesirable results in vital signs such as pulse. Treatment can therefore cause disruption. Although this application does not cause pain, being in a hospital environment and being an intervention applied by health professionals can cause anxiety in children. In addition, symptoms such as tachycardia are observed in children with some drugs administered via nebulizer. Many animal applications are used in animal-assisted therapies and it is emphasized that the stress of child patients decreases with these methods. In nebulizer drug use, the anxiety experienced by children due to both the mask and drug interactions applied in drug treatment and the changes in vital signs they encounter due to drug interactions have been tried to be supported with changing applications in the literature. However, when we look at the literature, we have not found any studies using pet therapy during nebulizer use.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

  • Receiving inhalation therapy as an outpatient in the emergency department
  • Between 3 and 6 years of age (determined as the age range in which children can communicate visually and emotionally)
  • Parents must have received nebulizer training before the procedure/nurse-assisted treatment if this is the first procedure
  • No visual impairment (for communication in pet therapy)
  • No congenital cardiac disease (for homogeneous data in pulse and SpO2 monitoring)
  • Agreeing to participate in the study

Exclusion criteria

for the study:

  • Children under 3 and over 6
  • Parents and children who do not agree to participate in the study

Treatment and study plan

Intervention group

Other

Before using the nebulizer, children were given 2 fish in a bowl accompanied by their parents. The child patient was in the fowler/semifowler position, the movements of the fish were monitored during the nebulization period, and the fish was fed by the child during this process (Communication was provided for at least 5 minutes.)

Primary outcomes

  1. Scale for Assessing Children's Emotional Expression

    Time frame: The treatment period for the sick child in the emergency unit covers an average of 20-30 minutes during which time he/she receives nebulization.

    There was a significant relationship between the child's age and the annual number of nebulizer uses on the CDBDS scale score during Pet therapy application (R=0.547, R2=0.300, p<0.05).

Other outcomes

  1. Scale for Assessing Children's Emotional Expression

    Time frame: Between February and June 2025

    The emergency department has varying levels of nebulization throughout the day. Some days, there are no patients at all, while other days, two or three pediatric patients receive nebulization. Reaching the sample size within this timeframe was among the other goals.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Recep Tayyip Erdogan University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Effects of Pet Therapy on Anxiety, Pulse Rate and Saturation In Children Between 3 and 6 Years of Age Who Received Nebulizer Treatment in the Emergency Department: A Randomized Controlled Study

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2025
First posted
Jul 24, 2025
Registry last updated
Jul 24, 2025

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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