The effects of goldfish on anxiety, fear, psychological and emotional well-being of hospitalized children: A randomized controlled study

This study aimed to determine the effect of goldfish intervention on anxiety, fear, psychological and emotional well-being of hospitalized children. Between November 2020 and August 2021, an open-label, single-center randomized controlled experimental study was conducted in Türkiye's Eastern Anatolia region. The study included 112 children aged 8 to 10 years old (56 in the study group and 56 in the control group). The study and control groups were randomly assigned to strata using a table of random numbers. The children in the study group observed after goldfish intervention for three days. As data collection tools, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children, Child Fear Scale, and the Stirling Children's Well-being Scale were used. The mean state anxiety scores of the children in the study group who looked after goldfish intervention decreased significantly compared to the control group. When the two groups were compared, the difference between the post-test measurements were significant (p < 0.05). The mean score of the fear scale in the post-test measurements of the study group children was significantly lower than the control group (p < 0.05). Finally, the emotional, and psychological well-being post-test scale mean scores of the study group children were higher than the control group (p < 0.01). Goldfish intervention was found to be effective in decreasing the state anxiety and fear levels and increasing the psychological and emotional well-being levels of the children in the study group. •The use of non-pharmacological methods is very important in the management of anxiety and fear in children.•The animal assisted practice can help reduce the anxiety and fear levels of hospitalized children and increase psychological and emotional well-being.•These interventions can be used in normal pediatric clinic nursing care in hospital.