The Effect of a Mandala Coloring-Based Nursing Intervention on Perceived Nursing Image and Anxiety in Children Hospitalized in a Pediatric Clinic: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Inclusion Criteria: * Aged between 8 and 11 years * Hospitalized in the Pediatric Clinic of Kilis Alaeddin Yavaşça State Hospital * Expected hospitalization for at least three more days based on clinical evaluation and having no clinical impediment to completing the 3-day intervention protocol * Able to read and write in Turkish with adequate cognitive ability to understand questions * Willingness of both child and parent to participate, with written informed consent provided by the parent * Being able to communicate at an adequate level Exclusion Criteria: * Inability to complete the 3-day intervention protocol due to early discharge or other reasons * Deterioration of the child's clinical condition preventing continuation of the application * Inability to complete data collection or outcome measurement procedures * Request by the child or parent to withdraw from the study at any stage