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The effect of music on parental participation during pediatric laceration repair
Gregory Sobieraj1, Maala Bhatt, Sylvie LeMay
1School of Nursing, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Insights
Music during pediatric laceration repair did not increase parental distraction. Child distress varied by age and the parent present, with fathers’ presence associated with higher distress scores.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric emergency medicine
- Child psychology
- Pain management
Background:
- Parental involvement is crucial for managing pediatric procedural distress.
- Music interventions are explored for their potential to aid distraction during medical procedures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of music as a distraction technique during simple laceration repair in children aged 1-5.
- To assess the impact of music on parent-led distraction and parental participation.
Main Methods:
- A quasi-experimental design was employed with an intervention group receiving music during laceration repair.
- Parental participation was encouraged, and procedures were videotaped and scored using the Procedure Behavior Checklist.
- 57 children aged 1-5 years participated in the study.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in parental involvement was observed between the music intervention and control groups.
- Children's distress scores were significantly higher when fathers were present compared to when mothers were present, after controlling for age, sex, and condition.
- Music did not increase the proportion of parents participating in distraction.
Conclusions:
- Music intervention did not enhance parent-led distraction during pediatric laceration repair.
- Child distress during procedures is influenced by the child's age and the specific parent present.
- Further research is needed to understand the dynamics of parental presence and child distress.
Abstract:
The purpose of this quasi-experimental study was to test an intervention on the use of music during simple laceration repair to promote parent-led distraction in children aged 1 to 5. Children's songs were broadcast via speakers during laceration repair and parents were encouraged to participate in distracting their child. The proportion of parental participation was determined. Laceration procedures were videotaped and objectively scored using the Procedure Behavior Check List. A total of 57 children participated in the study. There was no difference in parental involvement between the control and intervention groups. When age, sex, and condition were controlled for, distress scores were significantly higher if the father was present in the procedure room than if only the mother was present (43.68 vs. 23.39, t(54) 4.296, p = < 0.001). It was concluded that distress varies with the age of the child and the parent who is present during the procedure. Providing music during simple laceration repair did not increase the proportion of parents who were involved in distraction.
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