Effect of storytelling on loneliness in hospitalization children

Loneliness is one of the negative outcome of children to hospitalization. In this regard, the use of non-pharmacological techniques to relieve loneliness is of paramount importance. The present research was conducted aiming to determine the effect of storytelling on loneliness hospitalized children. This clinical trial was conducted on fifty six 8 to 12-year-old children Hospitalized in 17Shahrivar Hospital in Rasht, Iran in 2017. The subjects were chosen by sequential sampling method and divided into two groups of 28 to experimental and control group. In the intervention group, the storytelling program was conducted. The control group received the routine measures in the ward. Loneliness was measured in the two groups on the first and sixth day of hospitalization Data were collected by demographic characteristics questionnaire, as well as with Asher loneliness questionnaire. results showed a significant difference between children's loneliness the two groups before and after the intervention (P = 0.0001) and Control group (P = 0.02).Results showed that the mean score of children's loneliness was 22.86 ± 7.9 in the experimental group and 31.57 ± 10.5 in the control group. Independent t-test showed a significant difference between the two groups (P = 0.001). The finding of this study show the effectiveness of storytelling on relieve loneliness of hospitalized children. This method is non-pharmacological, easy and simple; it can be used for deceasing the rate of negative feeling, especially loneliness. This study introduced storytelling as an interesting technique for attracting children to nurses and hospitals.