Reducing Anxiety Levels in Preschool Children Undergoing Cryotherapy for Cutaneous Viral Warts

Results: Ninety-nine cryotherapy sessions performed among 35 children were evaluated. Fifteen children underwent cryotherapy during the preintervention phase only, and 13 children underwent cryotherapy during the intervention phase only. The mean modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale scores were 58.4 during the preintervention phase and 37.7 during the intervention phase (P=.005). The percentages of children with a high anxiety score ( 30) were 100% (15 of 15) during the preintervention phase and 38% (5 of 13) during the intervention phase (P .001). Another 7 children underwent cryotherapy during both the preintervention and intervention phases. Their mean modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale scores were 53.7 during the preintervention phase and 42.0 during the intervention phase (P=.03). The percentages of children with a high anxiety score were 86% (6 of 7) during the intervention phase and 43% (3 of 7) during the intervention phase (P=.25). In both groups, the time spent coaxing and treating children decreased after the intervention, but the differences were not statistically significant.