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Puppets and books beat fear in kids facing surgery

NCT ID NCT07430995

Symptom relief Sponsor: Muş Alparslan University Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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Recruitment status, easiest to join first

Recruiting now
This trial is taking on new participants right now.
Not yet recruiting
Registered, but not yet taking participants.
By invitation only
Not open to general applications. Only people the study team invites can take part.
Paused
Paused for now. It may or may not start again.
Ongoing
Running, but no longer taking on new participants.
Completed This study
The trial has finished. Results may not be published yet.
Stopped early
Stopped early, before it reached the end. That can be for many reasons, including safety.
Cancelled
Cancelled before anyone took part.

Expanded access (not trials)

Expanded access
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Expanded access (paused)
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Expanded access (ended)
Not a trial. The treatment could once be requested outside a study, but no longer can.
Approved
The treatment has been approved, so it is available normally rather than through this programme.

When the status isn't known

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Status unknown
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First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study tested two simple, non-drug methods to reduce fear in children before outpatient surgery. 99 children aged 4-7 were split into three groups: one got standard care, one read a storybook about surgery, and one played with a hand puppet. Researchers measured fear and emotional distress before and after the distraction. The goal was to find a fun, easy way to help kids feel calmer without medication.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Study facts

What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.

Phase

Not a phased trial

Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.

Participants

99 people

The number who actually took part.

Started

Jan 2025

Finished

Jun 2025

Lead sponsor

Other sponsor

The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.

Who can take part

This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.

Ages

4 to 7 years

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

Accepted

You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.

Show the full entry requirements

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * Children aged between 4 and 7 years. * Children hospitalized in the pediatric surgery ward. * Scheduled for elective (planned) surgery. * Ability to understand and speak Turkish. * Willingness of both the child and a parent/legal guardian to participate in the study. Exclusion Criteria * Children with long-term hospitalization history. * Participants who received analgesic or sedative medication within the last 24 hours. * Presence of major trauma, chronic disease, or chronic pain conditions requiring rapid assessment. * Any physical or cognitive impairment that hinders effective communication (e.g., significant visual, hearing, or speech impairments). * Presence of diagnosed mental or developmental disabilities. * History of psychiatric disorders such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). * Participants or parents who wish to withdraw from the study at any stage.

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As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Emotional distress Preoperative fear

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Mus State Hospital, Pediatric Surgery Department

    Muş, Province, 49000, Turkey (Türkiye)

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