Effects of Cartoons & Interactive Storytelling on Fear and Comfort in 6-9 Year Olds During Nebulizer Treatment

Fear and anxiety experienced by children during inhalation therapy (using a nebulizer or vaporizer) are key factors that make treatment compliance difficult and reduce the quality of care. Young children, in particular, may perceive this process as "threatening" due to mask use, the noise produced by the device, and a sense of loss of control. This situation triggers a significant physiological stress response in the child.

Therefore, in pediatric nursing, non-pharmacological methods that increase children's participation in treatment are of great importance. The literature indicates that interventions such as showing cartoons, playing music, and using distracting visual materials both reduce anxiety and improve stress indicators like heart rate. Additionally, therapeutic play has been proven to help children adapt to the hospital environment and soothe their emotional reactions.

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a nursing intervention-designed to enhance children's physical comfort and manage their fear and anxiety during inhalation therapy-that is breath-synchronized, interactive, and story-based.