The Effect of Listening to Music During Mobilization on Pain and Fear in Children Undergoing Abdominal Surgery

Overview

This research is designed to improve the mobilization process in children aged 4-6 years undergoing abdominal surgery. The main objective of the study is to determine the effect of music listening on pain and fear levels in children who are standing up for the first time after surgery using a randomized controlled experimental method. This study, to be conducted at the Pediatric Surgery Department of Aksaray Training and Research Hospital, will involve a total of 74 children (37 in the study group and 37 in the control group) between January 2026 and November 2026. According to the research protocol, children in the study group will listen to music of their own choosing during mobilization, while children in the control group will receive routine parental support from the clinic. During the data collection process, children's pain levels will be recorded using the Wong-Baker Pain Scale, and their fear levels using the Child Fear Scale, along with assessments from the child, parent, and nurse. Vital signs such as heart rate and respiratory rate will also be monitored before and after the procedure. This study aims to facilitate early mobilization in children and provide evidence as an effective non-pharmacological method in nursing care.

This randomized controlled experimental study aims to investigate the impact of music intervention on the pain and fear levels of children during the postoperative mobilization. Mobilization is a critical part of recovery, but it is often delayed in pediatric patients due to factors such as age, anxiety, fear, and pain. The study is designed to provide evidence for nurses on the use of non-pharmacological methods to facilitate early mobilization and improve the quality of surgical care.The research will be conducted at the Aksaray Training and Research Hospital Pediatric Surgery Department between January 2026 and November 2026. The study population consists of 74 children aged 4-6 who have undergone abdominal surgery. Participants will be randomly and equally divided into two groups: a study group (n=37) and a control group (n=37) using a computer-generated randomization program. Inclusion criteria require that the children be undergoing their first postoperative mobilization, have received only a single dose of paracetamol, and have no chronic illnesses or sensory impairments.The methodology involves assessing both groups before and after the mobilization process. Prior to mobilization, the baseline vital signs (heart rate, respiration, etc.) and pain and fear levels of all children will be evaluated by the child, their parents, and a nurse. During the mobilization, the study group will listen to music of their own choice through headphones, while the control group will receive standard clinical care with parental support. Immediately after the child returns to bed, the evaluations and vital sign recordings will be repeated to measure the intervention's effect.To ensure rigorous data collection, the researchers will use the Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale, the Children's Fear Scale (CFS), and a Vital Signs Tracking Form. Statistical analysis will be performed using SPSS 25.0, utilizing tests such as independent t-tests, Mann-Whitney U, and Chi-square to determine the significance of the results (p \< .05). The study anticipates that the music intervention will significantly lower pain and fear scores, supporting the hypothesis that music is an effective supportive tool in pediatric surgical nursing.