BACKGROUND: Hospitalizations and surgical procedures are unpleasant for both children and their parents. Therefore, postoperative pain assessments and management are less commonly performed in younger children than in adults.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of nonpharmacological interventions on postoperative pain and anxiety in children.

METHODS: In this randomized controlled trial, 160 children were randomly allocated to experimental (n=80) and control (n=80) groups. The children in the experimental group received age-appropriate distraction interventions for 3 postoperative days along with usual care. Children in the control group received standard care only. Each patient's pain was assessed using the EVENDOL pain scale, while their anxiety was measured using the modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale. The data were analyzed using SPSS 23.0. Descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation) and repeated-measures analysis of variance were used to analyze the data.

RESULTS: The children in the experimental group showed significantly decreased pain, anxiety, and physiological parameters (heart rate, respiratory rate, and oxygen saturation) compared to those in the control group. Significant intergroup differences were noted in the mean and standard deviation values of the pain, anxiety, and physiological parameters.

CONCLUSION: The distraction interventions provided by nurses reduced the pain and anxiety levels and improved the postoperative recovery of pediatric surgical patients.