Impact of Child-Friendly Nursing on Reducing Anxiety, Fear, and Pain in Paediatric Circumcision: A Retrospective Study

Abstract

Background: Paediatric circumcision is a standard surgical procedure that frequently induces anxiety, fear, and pain in young patients. Child-friendly nursing has shown potential in alleviating psychosocial distress in paediatric care settings. However, its specific impact on patients undergoing circumcision remains underexplored. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of child-friendly nursing in reducing patients' anxiety, fear and pain in patients undergoing paediatric circumcision.

Methods: Clinical data of paediatric patients who underwent circumcision at Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province from January 2022 to November 2023 were retrospectively analysed. Patients were divided into the traditional nursing (January 2022 to December 2022) and child-friendly nursing (January 2023 to November 2023) groups. Psychosocial parameters, including anxiety, depression, pain, and fear, were assessed using the Children's Anxiety Meter-State (CAM-S), Children's Depression Inventory (CDI), Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale (WBFPRS), and Children's Fear Scale (CFS), respectively.

Results: No significant differences were found in CAM-S, CDI, WBFPRS, and CFS scores between the two groups before intervention (p > 0.05). However, post-intervention scores for all parameters in the child-friendly nursing group were significantly lower than those in the traditional nursing group (p < 0.001). The results suggest that child-friendly nursing effectively reduces anxiety, depression, fear and pain in children undergoing circumcision.

Conclusions: This study provides compelling evidence supporting the effectiveness of child-friendly nursing in enhancing surgical experiences and improving psychosocial outcomes for paediatric patients undergoing circumcision.

Keywords: anxiety; child care; circumcision; male; pain.