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Distraction Kits for Pain Management of Children Undergoing Painful Procedures in the Emergency Department: A Pilot
Ariane Ballard1, Sylvie Le May1, Christelle Khadra2
1Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; CHU Sainte-Justine Research Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Insights
Age-tailored distraction kits are a feasible, useful, and acceptable non-pharmacologic option for managing procedural pain in young children in the emergency department. Parents and nurses found the kits helpful, particularly post-procedure.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Emergency Medicine
- Pain Management
- Child Psychology
Background:
- Procedural pain in young children visiting emergency departments is a significant clinical challenge.
- Non-pharmacologic interventions are sought to improve pediatric patient experience and reduce pain perception.
- Distraction techniques are widely used but require effective, age-appropriate tools.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the feasibility, usefulness, and acceptability of age-tailored distraction kits for needle-related procedures in young children.
- To assess the impact of distraction kits on procedural pain scores in pediatric emergency department patients.
- To gather feedback from parents and nurses on the utility of distraction kits.
Main Methods:
- A pre-experimental pilot study involving 50 children (25 infants-toddlers, 25 preschoolers) undergoing needle-related procedures.
- Age-tailored distraction kits (infants-toddlers: 3 months-2 years; preschoolers: 3-5 years) were provided to parents.
- Pain was measured using the Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability (FLACC) scale pre-, peri-, and post-procedure. Parent and nurse feedback was collected.
Main Results:
- Parents and nurses found the distraction kits useful and acceptable, especially for post-procedural pain management.
- Mean pain scores for infants-toddlers were 1.6 (pre), 7.1 (peri), and 2.5 (post).
- Mean pain scores for preschoolers were 1.6 (pre), 4.8 (peri), and 2.0 (post).
Conclusions:
- Age-tailored distraction kits are a viable and well-received non-pharmacologic intervention for pediatric procedural pain in emergency settings.
- These kits empower children with a sense of control, potentially improving their overall hospital experience.
- Further research is recommended to explore the broader application of distraction kits across diverse patient populations and procedures.
Abstract:
To assess the feasibility, usefulness, and acceptability of using distraction kits, tailored to age, for procedural pain management of young children visiting the emergency department and requiring a needle-related procedure. A pre-experimental design was piloted. A kit, tailored to age (infants-toddlers: 3 months-2 years; preschoolers: 3-5 years), was provided to parents before their child's needle-related procedure. Data was collected to assess feasibility, usefulness, and acceptability of the kits by parents and nurses. Pain was measured pre-, peri-, and postprocedure using the Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability scale. A total of 25 infants and toddlers (mean age: 1.4 ± .7 years) and 25 preschoolers (mean age: 4.0 ± .9) participated in the study. Parents and nurses considered the kits useful and acceptable for distraction in the emergency department, especially in the postprocedural period. Addition of more animated and interactive toys to the kits was suggested. In the infants-toddlers group, mean pain scores were 1.6 ± 2.5 preprocedure, 7.1 ± 3.0 periprocedure, and 2.5 ± 2.5 postprocedure. In the preschoolers group, mean pain scores were 1.6 ± 3.0 preprocedure, 4.8 ± 3.4 periprocedure, and 2.0 ± 3.2 postprocedure. Distraction kits were deemed useful and acceptable by parents and emergency nurses. They are an interesting nonpharmacologic option for nurses to distract children, giving them a sense of control over their pain and improving their hospital experience. Future research should address the feasibility of distraction kits for a broader population of patients and a variety of painful procedures.
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