Impact of Storytelling on Anxiety in 4-7 Year Old Children in Hospital: A Randomized Clinical Trial Study

Abstract

Introduction: Storytelling is one of the appropriate methods to reduce anxiety in children admitted to hospital. The aim of this research was to investigate the effectiveness of storytelling in anxiety among 4-7 year old children who were admitted to hospital. Methods: This research is a clinical trial. The samples were 40 children aged 4 to 7 years which were admitted at Ahvaz educational hospitals for different medical reasons. Prior to the intervention, the researcher examined the anxiety level of children according to the anxiety scale of the preschool children of Spence (parental form). After completing a research tool by mothers in both groups, the samples were randomly (Classified block) divided into two groups. Intervention group had 4 sessions of treatment (storytelling) for 20 minutes per each session at separate days. In the control group, only daily conversation was performed. The data analysis was done using descriptive and inferential statistical tests (Chi-square, independent t-test, and paired t-test). Then, the data were analyzed using SPSS20 at a significant level of (P<0.05). Results: The findings showed that there is a statistically significant difference between mean anxiety in two groups after intervention and storytelling caused anxiety reduction among hospitalized children compared to the children who had not received intervention (P ≤ 0.01). Conclusion: Storytelling can reduce anxiety among 4-7 year old hospitalized children.

Keywords

• storytelling
• anxiety
• child
• hospitalization