Comparison of children's fears of medical experiences across two cultures*1

Abstract

Introduction This study examined the self-reported fears of school-age children living in the United States and in Nepal. Method Thirty school-age children from each country, matched by sex and age, participated in this study. The revised version of the Child Medical Fear Scale was used to identify medical fears of children. Results Among 17 feared items, the result showed getting a shot to be the most feared item reported by both groups. Nepalese children reported higher fear scores than did American children. It also was found that there was a significant difference in fear scores between Nepalese boys and girls, with girls reporting higher fear scores than boys. There was no difference in fear scores between American boys and girls. Discussion The findings of this study are important to nurse practitioners in understanding children's fears of medical experiences across different cultures. Nurses can support children in dealing with their fears of medical experiences by recognizing these fears and taking into consideration the child's family, sex, and culture when planning care. Nursing implications are discussed.