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[Multimodal distraction to relieve pain in children undergoing acute medical procedures]

Kate Miller1, Sylvia Rodger, Sam Bucolo

  • 1Stuart Pegg Paediatric Burns Centre, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, 4029, Australia. kate.miller@uq.edu.au

Zhonghua Shao Shang Za Zhi = Zhonghua Shaoshang Zazhi = Chinese Journal of Burns
|December 3, 2009
PubMed

Insights

A new multimodal distraction device (MMD) significantly reduced pain and anxiety in children during medical procedures compared to standard care and video games. The MMD proved effective for both burn and non-burn treatments, showing sustained benefits over time.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric pain management
  • Non-pharmacological interventions
  • Medical technology innovation

Context:

  • Children undergoing painful medical procedures experience significant anxiety and pain.
  • Traditional distraction methods and pharmacological approaches have limitations.
  • Technological advancements enable novel approaches to pediatric pain control.

Purpose:

  • To evaluate the effectiveness of a novel multimodal distraction device (MMD) in reducing pain and anxiety in children during medical procedures.
  • To compare the MMD's efficacy against standard distraction (SD) and video games (VG).
  • To assess the MMD's impact on procedural length and its sustained effect.

Summary:

  • Three randomized controlled trials involving 182 children and 354 procedures were conducted.
  • The MMD, an interactive device with stories and games, was used for preparation and distraction.
  • Pain and anxiety were measured using validated scales by children, caregivers, and nursing staff.

Impact:

  • The MMD significantly reduced anxiety and pain reported by children, parents, and staff (P < 0.01).
  • The device positively influenced clinical procedure time.
  • The MMD demonstrated sustained effectiveness in reducing pain and time with repeated use.
Abstract

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