FACTORS AFFECTING THE FEAR OF MEDICAL PROCEDURE IN CHILDREN 7-14 YEARS OLD

Abstract

The study was conducted in order to determine the factors affecting the fear of medical procedures of school children aged 7-14 years. The sample was calculated by using the formula used when the number of individuals in the universe was known and consisted of 300 children willing to participate in the study. The data were collected with the "Data Collection Form" and the "Medical Procedure Fear Scale (MPFS)", which inquired about the sociodemographic characteristics of the child and family, and the child's hospital experience. The difference between the gender and total MPFS, procedural, personal and interpersonal sub-dimension scores, and the age and mean scores of MPFS, procedural and interpersonal sub-dimensions were statistically significant. Children with hospital experience had higher environmental and interpersonal subscale scores than those without (p<.05). It was determined that average score of MPFS and subdimension scores of the children who defined income as less than expense was higher (p<.05). As a result, it is seen that the majority of children are “a little afraid during medical procedures. It is seen that the age and gender of the children, mother's age and educational status of mother and father and perceived income status affect the fear of medical procedure.