The Effect of Animated Videos and Therapeutic Play Methods on Emotional Expression, Fear and Anxiety in Children Aged 4-8 Years During the Throat Swab Procedure

We planned a study to determine the effect of showing an animated video and using educational therapeutic play methods prior to throat swab procedures in children aged 4-8 years on the children's compliance with the procedure, as well as on their emotional expression, fear and anxiety levels, and to compare the superiority/effectiveness of these two methods against one another. The sample size for the study was determined using an a priori power analysis conducted with the G\*Power (v3.1.9.7) programme. It is planned to include a total of 105 children, with at least 35 children in each group. The study will be conducted using a single-blind, parallel-group, three-group experimental design. By demonstrating the effects of two different modern approaches on children's compliance, fear, anxiety and emotional responses during the throat swab procedure, this study will contribute to the development of evidence-based, atraumatic care practices in paediatric clinics.

Inclusion Criteria: Children whose parents have provided written informed consent, who have had a throat swab taken at a paediatric clinic, who have verbally agreed to participate in the study, aged between 4 and 8 years, with no cognitive or neurological differences, with no visual or hearing impairment. Exclusion Criteria: Children whose parents have not provided written informed consent, who have not had a throat swab taken at a paediatric clinic, who have not verbally agreed to participate in the study, younger than 4 years or older than 8 years, with cognitive or neurological differences, with visual or hearing impairment.