International Journal of Innovative Research in Health Science

Background: Leukemia is the most common childhood cancer, often associated with high levels of anxiety during hospitalization. Addressing both physical and emotional needs is crucial for improving outcomes. Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of animated cartoon videos in reducing anxiety among children with leukemia admitted to the pediatric ward at Government Rajaji Hospital, Madurai. Methods: A quantitative pre-experimental one-group pretest-posttest design was adopted with 60 leukemic children aged 3–12 years, selected by purposive sampling. Anxiety was measured using the Visual Facial Anxiety Scale before and after a 7-day intervention where children watched animated cartoon videos for 20 minutes twice daily. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: Before the intervention, 45% of children had the highest level of anxiety. After watching cartoons, 43.33% had mild anxiety, 35% mild-moderate, and 10% reported no anxiety. The mean anxiety score significantly reduced from 4.01 (SD = 1.08) to 1.48 (SD = 0.83), with a mean difference of 2.53 (t = 18.42, p < 0.001). Significant associations were found between posttest anxiety levels and variables such as age, junk food habits, duration of illness, and time since treatment initiation. Conclusion: Animated cartoon videos effectively reduced anxiety among hospitalized children with leukemia and can be used as a supportive intervention.