Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
European Journal of Pediatrics, cilt.184, sa.9, 2025 (SCI-Expanded)
This parallel-group randomized controlled trial evaluated the effectiveness of drawing and mutual storytelling techniques in reducing anxiety and improving the emotional well-being of children aged 7–12 years in a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). This study was conducted in a city hospital between August 2024 and January 2025, involving 70 children. Participants were randomly assigned to either an intervention group (n = 35) or a control group (n = 35). The intervention group received therapeutic communication sessions involving drawing and mutual storytelling techniques, delivered by a trained researcher over two consecutive days, while the control group received standard care. Data were collected using the State Anxiety Scale for Children, the Koppitz Human Figure Drawing Test, and an emotion wheel. Analyses were performed with an intention-to-treat (ITT) approach, using independent t-tests, chi-square tests, and Cohen’s d effect size calculations. Before the intervention, no significant difference was observed in state anxiety scores between groups (p = 0.312). After the intervention, the mean anxiety score significantly decreased in the intervention group (36.84 ± 9.6) compared to the control group (43.84 ± 8.3; p = 0.002, Cohen’s d = 0.78). According to Koppitz test results, feelings of insecurity and inadequacy were significantly lower in the intervention group (36.7%) than in the control group (70.0%; p = 0.010). Conclusion: Therapeutic communication techniques involving drawing and mutual storytelling effectively reduce anxiety and improve emotional well-being in children hospitalized in PICUs. Integrating these interventions into routine nursing care can enhance pediatric patient outcomes. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT06956586. Registered on April 25, 2025. (Table presented.)