The anxiety of children and their mothers waiting for examination in the paediatric outpatient clinic: a cross-sectional descriptive correlational study

The study was conducted with 330 children and their mothers waiting in line for examination in pediatric outpatient clinics. Child and Mother Information Forms, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children, and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory were used as data collection tools. The study revealed that both children and their mothers experience moderate anxiety during the waiting period in the outpatient clinic and that there is a positive relationship between state and trait anxiety levels of children and mothers. The study observed that the state anxiety levels of children and their mothers were higher in children with previous hospitalization experience. Both state and trait anxiety levels were lower in children informed about visiting the hospital. It was concluded that prolonging the outpatient clinic waiting period increases anxiety levels in children and their mothers.