Effect of selected play activities on preoperative anxiety level and fear among children undergoing abdominal surgeries

Backgroun Hospitalization and surgery are stressful events children face especially during the early years. Through play activities, children can reduce the level of preoperative anxiety and fear. Aim The aim of the current study was to evaluate the effect of selected play activities on preoperative anxiety level and fear among children undergoing abdominal surgeries. Sample A convenient sample of 50 school-age children undergoing abdominal surgeries participated in the current study. Design One-group pre–post-test time series quasi-experimental research design was used to achieve the aim of the current study. Setting The current study was conducted at the General Pediatric Surgical unit at Cairo University Specialized Pediatric Hospital. Tools Data were collected through the following tools: structured interview questionnaire, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children (STAIC), and the Glasses Fear Scale (GFS). Results The results revealed that preoperative anxiety scores on STAIC and preoperative fear scores on GFS were lower among the studied children after using the selected play activities than before. A highly statistically significant difference was detected between total mean score of STAIC and GFS in the pretest and after the first, second, and third play sessions and at 30 min before surgery. Conclusion The current study concluded that the selected play activities were effective in reducing the level of anxiety and fear among children undergoing abdominal surgeries. Recommendations It was recommended that establishing preoperative play activities for children undergoing abdominal surgeries is essential for preparation of the child for surgery.