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Introducing a protocol for procedural pain
1Glan Clwyd Hospital, Denbighshire.
Insights
This study explored using a protocol to reduce pediatric procedural pain and distress. While results were inconsistent, distraction remains a key nursing intervention for improving children's hospital experiences.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric healthcare
- Pain management in children
- Child psychology
Background:
- Hospitalization can be distressing for children.
- Procedures like cannulation cause significant pain and anxiety.
- Lack of understanding exacerbates children's distress.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate a protocol for assessing, preparing, and distracting children during medical procedures.
- To determine if this protocol reduces pain and distress in pediatric patients.
- To assess the impact on children, parents, and nursing staff perceptions.
Main Methods:
- Study involved 82 children undergoing procedures.
- Utilized pain thermometers and 'scary faces' scales for assessment.
- Implemented a protocol involving preparation and distraction techniques.
Main Results:
- Pain and distress assessment results were ambiguous.
- Data collected from children, parents, and nurses showed inconsistencies.
- No definitive decrease in reported pain or distress was clearly established.
Conclusions:
- The study's findings on the protocol's effectiveness were inconclusive.
- Nurses play a crucial role in mitigating pediatric pain and anxiety.
- Distraction techniques are a valuable nursing intervention for children in hospitals.
Abstract:
Children endure painful experiences while in hospital, often without understanding why. This study aimed to assess whether the use of a protocol for assessing, preparing and distracting children during procedures such as cannulation would decrease levels of pain and distress reported by children, parents and nurses. Pain thermometers and 'scary faces' were used as tools to assess pain and anxiety levels of 82 children. The results were ambiguous and inconsistent. However, nurses have a responsibility to reduce children's pain and anxiety as much as possible and distraction is one way of doing this.