ABSTRACT

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of environmental play and mobilization of 6-12 years old children with acute appendicitis surgery on fear and pain levels in the postoperative period. This study is conducted as a prospective, randomized controlled experimental study. The sample of the study consisted of 100 children environmental play group (n = 50) and control group (n = 50) randomly selected from 6-12 years old children who applied to the pediatric surgery department with the diagnosis of acute appendicitis, who underwent appendectomy and met the sampling criteria. In both groups, parents accompanied their children during mobilization. Data were collected using the Child Follow-up Form, which was developed to assess the demographic characteristics, physiological parameters, pain and fear of the child. Data were evaluated using appropriate statistical methods in SPSS 22.0 package program.

In the study, it was determined that in both groups there was no difference between pulse, blood pressure and oxygen saturation values of children before and after the procedure (p>0,05). The mean pain scores evaluated by children, parents and nurses were similar in both groups before mobilization (p>0,05), whereas the mean pain scores of the children in the environmental play group were lower after mobilization (p<0,005). While the fear score averages evaluated by children, parents and nurses were similar in both groups before mobilization (p>0,05), the mean fear scores of the children in the environmental play group were lower after mobilization (p<0,05). When the group results were examined; pulse and blood pressure averages of children in environmental play and control groups were found to be higher in both groups after mobilization than before (p<0,05). The pain scores of the children were evaluated by children, parents and nurses. As a result of this evaluation it was found that the mean pain score of the environmental

play group was lower after mobilization than before (p<0.05) while the mean pain score of the control group was higher (p <0.05). It was found that fear scores which are evaluated by children, parents and nurses, is lower in the environmental play group compared to the pre-mobilization group (p <0.05), but similar in the control group (p>0,05).

According to the results of this study, it was found that environmental play is an effective method in controlling the fears and pains of children.

Keywords: Pain, Appendicitis, Environmental game, Pediatric surgery, Fear