Measurement of Anxiety in 3-9 Year Old Children Receiving Nursing Intervention

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Nursing
• Child Psychology
• Healthcare Research

Background:

• Nurses play a crucial role in managing anxiety in hospitalized children.
• Understanding common nursing procedures and their impact on pediatric anxiety is essential for improving care.
• Hospitalization can be a significant source of stress for children.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify common nursing procedures performed on children in a hospital setting.
• To measure the anxiety levels of children undergoing these procedures.
• To explore factors influencing anxiety, such as age and prior hospital experience.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional descriptive study involving 235 children aged 3-9 years in a Philippine pediatric ward.
• Data collection included demographic information and anxiety assessment using the validated Venham Picture Test.
• Statistical analysis employed chi-square and t-tests to determine significant differences in anxiety scores.

Main Results:

• Temperature and pulse measurements were the most frequent procedures and were associated with low anxiety levels.
• Peripheral cannula insertion induced the highest levels of anxiety among the studied procedures.
• Younger children (3-4 years) exhibited higher anxiety compared to older children (5-9 years).
• Children with prior hospital experience showed significantly different mean anxiety scores compared to those without.

Conclusions:

• Nursing interventions should focus on minimizing anxiety during procedures like peripheral cannula insertion.
• Age is a critical factor, with younger children requiring more supportive care.
• Nurses' ability to manage anxiety can significantly impact a child's hospital experience.