Effectiveness of yogic visual concentration (Trataka) on cognitive performance and anxiety among adolescents.

Background Cognition is the mental process of acquiring knowledge, understanding senses and synchronizing all the electrical activity that is constantly received and generated through the eye. Purpose of the present study was to assess the effectiveness of yogic visual concentration (Trataka) on cognitive performance and anxiety among adolescents studying in selected schools at Chennai. Methodology This study was designed to assess cognitive performance and anxiety among students using quantitative approach. True Experimental study design was used for this study. Pretest assessment of cognitive performance and anxiety was done by standardized tools (Stroop color word test, Hamilton anxiety scale) for Experimental and Control groups. Intervention of yogic visual concentration (Trataka) was experimented in one group. Control group were kept on routine activities. Post test assessment of cognitive performance and anxiety by standardized tools was performed on experimental and control groups. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. The 0.05 level of significance was used. Results A significant difference in the mean difference of color word score, color score, word score and inference score between the study and control groups at the level of p<0.0001 was observed. Results indicate an association in the cognitive performance (word) with background variables such as, gender, father's occupation in the study group during the post test and no association in the control group. There were no associations between anxiety cognitive performance (color and word) and demographic variables in both groups. Conclusion The study concluded that there is a greater effect on Yogic visual concentration (Trataka) on cognitive performance and anxiety among adolescent students, therefore the study proved the hypothesis.

Effectiveness of video game on bio- physiological parameters during intravenous cannulation among preschool children.

Background Hospitalization is a completely new experience for infants and young children; they are too young to understand the stress of hospitalization. Distractions or diversions seek to divert the child's attention to interesting or challenging tasks to draw attention away from painful or distressful medical procedure. Therefore, the present study assesses the effectiveness of video game on bio-physiological parameters during intravenous cannulation among preschool children admitted in paediatric ward. Methods A randomized true experimental research design was used to assess the effectiveness of video game technique on pain and bio-physiological parameters during Intravenous Cannulation among preschool children admitted in paediatric ward at Sri Ramachandra Hospital in Chennai. The collected data were grouped and analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics, to assess the effectiveness of video games. Results There was a significant difference in the mean score of oxygen saturation of post-test compare to pre-test for both groups. The number of children feeling severe pain was more in the control group during intervention and this difference was highly significant. Oxygen saturation was more in control but not significant, but the heart rate was significantly higher in control group during intervention. There was no association during pre- post-test and oxygen saturation, with selected demographic variables of the preschool children in both groups, apart from the fact that children from low income group had significant low heart rate during pre- and post-test Discussion Video game is an effective method in reducing pain in children undergoing intravenous cannulation. In this framework, the intervention (showing video game) reduced perception of pain and changes in bio-physiological parameters such as, heart rate and oxygen saturation, during intravenous cannulation.