Children's sticker books are a passport to reassurance

Area of Science:

• Pediatric psychology
• Child health technology
• Healthcare innovation

Background:

• Hospitalization can induce significant fear and anxiety in young patients.
• Effective interventions are needed to improve pediatric patient coping mechanisms.
• Digital therapeutics offer novel approaches to address healthcare challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of a novel game designed to mitigate pediatric fear of hospitalization.
• To assess the feasibility of implementing this intervention in a national healthcare setting.

Main Methods:

• Development of an engaging digital game tailored for pediatric patients.
• Pilot implementation and data collection in a pediatric care setting.
• Analysis of patient-reported outcomes and healthcare provider feedback.

Main Results:

• The game demonstrated significant success in reducing patient-reported fear and anxiety.
• Positive feedback was received from both young patients and healthcare professionals.
• The intervention proved scalable for wider adoption.

Conclusions:

• The developed game is an effective tool for managing pediatric fear of hospitals.
• Successful implementation in Scotland's children's hospitals is planned.
• This intervention represents a promising advancement in pediatric patient care.