Effects of grade, gender, and hospitalization on children's medical fears

First, fourth, and seventh graders completed a specially designed medical fears questionnaire. The effects of grade, gender, and previous hospitalization on the children's medical fears were analyzed. Gender was found to be significantly related to both the frequency and intensity of medical fears, with girls expressing more and stronger fears than boys. Fourth and seventh graders reported more medical fears than first graders. Previous hospitalization experience had no effect on the frequency or intensity of medical fears.