The Effect of Preparation With The Ventriloquist Puppet Method Before Inhaler Treatment on Anxiety and Fear Level of Children Aged 4-6

Although treatment methods appropriate to the disease are applied in respiratory system diseases, healthcare professionals must cooperate with the child and family regarding compliance with the treatment (oral, nebulizer, inhaler) and management of the disease. Children may experience anxiety and fear from the moment they enter the hospital. They may react to being in the hospital and medical procedures such as crying, running away, or withdrawing. Age, previous negative hospitalization experiences, and fear of getting sick are factors that shape children's medical fears. The majority of children have 'a little' or 'a lot' of fear about medical procedures. Children have adaptation problems to the inhaler treatment and often reject it. To provide effective treatment, compliance of the child and family with the treatment and suitable application techniques are crucial. In this process, it is important to minimize the anxiety and fear of children and ensure that they receive the treatment in the best possible way. Therapeutic approaches such as distraction cards, musical toys, and puppets during the preparation of the child for the procedure before the treatment can increase the child's compliance with the treatment and reduce the level of anxiety. In a study, puppet shows were useful in reducing the fears of children with 'a lot' fear. In another study, finger puppets as a play enhanced communication with children with cancer and were suitable for use in the hospital environment. It has been concluded that the use of puppets is beneficial because it gives children the opportunity to express themselves freely. An effort should be made to reduce the child's anxiety and fear by taking a therapeutic approach not only for invasive procedures but also for non-invasive procedures. Therapeutic approaches can be applied to the child and family before, during, and after treatment. This study aimed to determine the effect of preparation with the ventriloquist puppet method before inhaler treatment on the anxiety and fear levels of children aged 4-6.