Interventions reducing anxiety in hospitalized children : A systematic literature review from 2010 to 2017

Abstract: A medical procedure is a threatening and stressful experience for many children. The consequent increased feelings of anxiety in hospitalized children can negatively affect their healing process, their psychological health, and their behavioural, cognitive, emotional and academic development. To limit these negative results, knowledge about interventions that could contribute to a decrease in anxiety in hospitalized children is needed. The aim of this review was to examine interventions aiming at reducing anxiety in hospitalized children that undergo a medical procedure. A systematic literature was conducted in three databases that has resulted in 10 articles that met the inclusion criteria. The 10 selected articles included a total of 11 interventions for this review. The results showed that the intervention technique Distraction was effective in reducing anxiety for most hospitalized children. The intervention technique Information provision showed both significance and non-significance and the intervention techniques Medication and Modelling showed a non-significant change in anxiety. Besides, an active distraction form and a longer duration of the intervention might contribute to the effectiveness in reducing the hospitalized child’s anxiety level. Future research needs to focus on the anxiety level of both children and their parents, in addition to the upcoming intervention use of multimedia applications. Furthermore, the characteristics of the hospitalized child and the collaboration with the child and parents should be taken into account before applying interventions aiming at reducing anxiety in hospitalized children.