Clowning around before surgery: a fun way to ease Kids' fears?
NCT ID NCT07525388
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jul 08, 2026 · Updated 4 times
Summary
This study tests whether combining a therapeutic clown with progressive relaxation exercises can reduce fear, anxiety, and stress in children aged 6-10 before circumcision surgery. 162 children will be split into three groups: one does relaxation exercises with a clown, one with a nurse, and one gets standard care. Researchers will measure changes in anxiety, fear, heart rate, and blood pressure.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- therapeutic clown and progressive relaxation exercises
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could offer a simple, drug-free way to help children feel calmer and less scared before surgery.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-stage study with no blinding, so results may be influenced by expectation. The effect may not be large or generalizable to other hospitals or age groups.
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
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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
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About 162 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Mar 2025
- Expected to finish
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Jun 2026
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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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
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6 to 10 years
- Sex
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Male participants only
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
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Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Aged between 6 and 10 years, * Willing to participate in the study, * Admitted to the clinic for elective circumcision surgery, * Accessible prior to surgery, * With no cognitive impairments, * With no vision or hearing problems were included in the study. Exclusion Criteria: * Children who wished to withdraw from the study during the study period were excluded.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Paediatric Surgery Clinic, Atatürk University Health Research and Training Hospital
RECRUITINGErzurum, 25240, Turkey (Türkiye)
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