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Effect of physician communication on caregivers' anxiety in pediatric trauma patients: a quasi-experimental study
Gokhan Taskin1, Ramazan Kiyak1, Gozde Gunaydin Baser1
1Department of Emergency, Faculty of Medicine, Balikesir University, Balikesir, Türkiye.
Insights
Physician verbal feedback significantly reduced caregiver anxiety in pediatric trauma cases. This highlights the importance of clear communication for families in emergency settings.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Emergency Medicine
- Caregiver Mental Health
- Trauma Care
Background:
- Caregiver anxiety is a significant concern in pediatric emergency settings.
- Effective communication strategies are crucial for mitigating caregiver distress.
- Limited research exists on the impact of physician feedback on caregiver anxiety in pediatric trauma.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the impact of attending physician verbal feedback on caregiver state anxiety levels.
- To investigate anxiety changes in caregivers of pediatric trauma patients (0-18 years) post-diagnosis and treatment clarity.
- To explore demographic factors influencing caregiver anxiety in this context.
Main Methods:
- A sample of 391 caregivers of pediatric trauma patients was recruited.
- Data collection involved the "Personal Information Form" and "State Anxiety Inventory".
- Paired-samples t-test analyzed pre- and post-physician briefing anxiety scores; ANOVA examined demographic influences.
Main Results:
- Mean state anxiety scores decreased significantly from 53.31 to 51.74 post-feedback (p < .001).
- Caregivers of children with traffic accident trauma reported higher anxiety than those with fall or sports-related trauma (p < .001).
- No significant differences in anxiety were found based on kinship, education, trauma severity, or child's gender.
Conclusions:
- Physician verbal information leads to a statistically significant, albeit modest, reduction in caregiver anxiety.
- Timely informational support from physicians is valuable during pediatric acute care.
- This study addresses a gap in pediatric trauma literature, supporting future research.
Purpose:
This study aimed to examine the effect of verbal feedback provided by the attending physician on the state anxiety level of caregivers of patients aged 0-18 years who visited the emergency department due to pediatric trauma, after the diagnosis and treatment steps became clear.
Method:
The sample consisted of 391 caregivers of children aged 0-18 years who visited the Emergency Department of Balıkesir University Faculty of Medicine Hospital due to trauma between July 31 and September 30, 2025. The "Personal Information Form" and the "State Anxiety Inventory" were used as data collection tools. Data were collected from caregivers of pediatric trauma patients before and after the physician briefing. Data were analyzed using a paired-samples t-test to compare pre- and post-test results. An independent samples t-test and One-way Analysis of Variance were used to examine the effect of demographic variables.
Results:
The mean state anxiety score of caregivers before receiving physician information was 53.31, and after receiving the information, it was 51.74. The difference between the mean scores of state anxiety was statistically significant (t = 69.876; p < .001). The findings indicate that explanatory feedback provided by physicians is effective in reducing anxiety in caregivers. A significant difference was found according to the mechanism of trauma; caregivers of children injured in traffic accidents had higher overall state anxiety levels compared with those whose children experienced fall- or sports-related trauma (F = 7.251; p < .001). However, no significant differences were found in terms of the caregivers' degree of kinship, education level, trauma severity, and gender of children.
Conclusions:
The findings indicate that physician-provided verbal information is associated with a statistically significant but modest reduction in caregivers' state anxiety levels in the pediatric emergency trauma setting. This result underscores the potential value of timely informational support for caregivers during acute care processes. This study, as one of the few empirical studies targeting caregivers' anxiety in the field of pediatric trauma, fills an important gap in the literature and provides a strong foundation for future multicenter, longitudinal studies.
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