NCT07073625

During Inhaler Application, Children Were Given Stress Ball and Storybook Reading Interventions

The Effects of Stress Ball and Storybook Reading During Inhaler Application on Fear and Anxiety in Children

• Status: Not Yet Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 99 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Ataturk University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 5 Years – 6 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

It aims to examine the effects of stress ball and book reading methods on children's fear and anxiety levels during inhalation.

Detailed description

Ninety-nine volunteer children aged 5-6 who will receive inhalation therapy will be randomly assigned to three groups: stress ball, storybook reading, and control. Children will be assessed before, during, and after the procedure. Inhalation-related fear will be assessed using the Children's Fear Scale, and anxiety will be assessed using the Children's State Anxiety Scale. Furthermore, children's demographic data will be recorded on the Information Form.

Conditions

• Inhalation Therapy

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Stress Ball	Children arriving at the hospital's emergency department and meeting the study criteria will be randomly assigned to the stress ball group. Before inhalation therapy, the child will begin squeezing the chosen stress ball. This will distract their attention, transforming the frightening hospital environment into a fun one. The questionnaires will be completed by the nurse and family five minutes before, during, and after the inhalation therapy.
OTHER	Reading Storybook	The storybook for the children will be selected by child psychologists. The book will be read to the children by their parents. The storybook reading will begin 15 minutes before the inhalation therapy and will be completed before the treatment begins. The storybook will be read to the children only once.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-08-01
• Primary completion: 2025-11-01
• Completion: 2026-02-01
• First posted: 2025-07-18
• Last updated: 2025-07-18

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Turkey (Türkiye)