Comparing the Effect of Music and Puzzle-Solving on Anxiety Before Surgery in Children: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Abstract

Objective: Hospitalization and the possibility of surgery are known as the main causes of anxiety in children, and anxiety is a natural physiological process in individuals that allows them to adapt and deal with a diversity of adverse conditions. The purpose of this research aimed to compare 2 methods of distraction including puzzle-solving and music on anxiety before pediatric surgery.



Materials and Methods: This study is clinical trial research. First, 90 children 6 to 10 years old were randomly assigned to the intervention and control groups. In group A, the visual puzzlesolving items were presented, in group B, music with related pictures via a tablet was presented in the waiting room for surgery, and in group C, only standard care for each patient was presented. Anxiety before surgery was measured with a Children’s Fear Scale questionnaire before moving the patient to the operating room, then 30 minutes before surgery in the pre-surgery waiting room, and the third stage immediately after transfer to the operating room before induction of anesthesia. Data were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance, chi-square test, and Tukey test using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software version 21.0.



Results: The results of this research showed that the levels of anxiety significantly improved in the intervention groups compared to the control group after the intervention (P < .001).



Conclusion: Music and puzzle-solving as complementary therapy can improve the levels of anxiety in children before surgery. Therefore, this technique can be recommended to be used along with modern medicine in children.



Cite this article as: Golitaleb M, Harorani M, Garshasbi M, et al. Comparing the effect of music and puzzle-solving on anxiety before surgery in children: A randomized clinical trial. Turk Arch Pediatr. 2023;58(2):136-141.