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Parental presence and distraction during painful childhood procedures

Vasiliki Matziou1, Anthi Chrysostomou, Efrosyni Vlahioti

  • 1Faculty of Nursing, National and Kapodestrian University of Athens.

British Journal of Nursing (Mark Allen Publishing)
|August 3, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Parental presence significantly reduces pain and distress in children during medical procedures. This study highlights the importance of a parent

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Psychology
  • Pain Management
  • Child Health

Background:

  • Painful procedures in children can cause significant distress and anxiety.
  • Understanding factors that mitigate pain and anxiety is crucial for pediatric care.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the impact of parental presence versus a toy distraction on children's pain and anxiety during painful procedures.
  • To compare these interventions against a control group with no intervention.

Main Methods:

  • A randomized controlled trial involving 130 children aged 7-10 years.
  • Participants were assigned to a parent presence group, a toy distraction group, or a control group.
  • Pain, vital signs, and anxiety were assessed using validated scales.

Main Results:

  • Parental presence was associated with significant reductions in pain, anxiety, respiratory rate, blood pressure, and pulse.
  • The toy distraction group did not show statistically significant differences compared to the control group in most measures.
  • Children with parents present reported less pain and distress.

Conclusions:

  • Parental presence is a highly effective strategy for alleviating pain and distress in children undergoing invasive procedures.
  • It is recommended to facilitate parental presence during pediatric medical interventions.
  • Further research could explore the optimal ways to integrate parental support in clinical settings.
Abstract

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