Reduction of healthy children's fears related to hospitalization and medical procedures: The effectiveness of multimedia computer instruction in pediatric psychology

We compared the efficacy of multimedia computer hospitalization preparation instruction to a conventional slide show in reduction of children's medica l fears. Changes in hospitalization knowledge and intervention satisfaction were also assessed. Eighty-four 3rd-grade children were randomly assigned to either the computer or slide show groups. Computer instruction was equal ly effective to that of conventional procedures in producing significant de creases in medical fears. Children in both conditions also demonstrated sim ilar significant gains in hospitalization knowledge. Children reported sign ificantly greater satisfaction with the computer program. Implications rega rding the use of computer-based hospital preparation are discussed.