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The Efficacy of Distraction Cards and Kaleidoscope for Reducing Pain During Phlebotomy: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Remziye Semerci1, Melahat Akgün Kostak1
1Department of Child Health and Disease Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Trakya University, Edirne, Turkey.
Insights
Distraction cards and kaleidoscopes effectively reduced pain in children aged 6-12 during blood draws. Both methods proved beneficial for managing procedural pain in pediatric patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nursing
- Pain Management
- Child Psychology
Background:
- Phlebotomy procedures can cause significant pain and anxiety in children.
- Effective pain management strategies are crucial for improving pediatric patient experiences.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of distraction cards and kaleidoscopes in alleviating pain during pediatric phlebotomy.
- To compare the effectiveness of these non-pharmacological interventions against a control group.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial was conducted with children aged 6 to 12 undergoing phlebotomy.
- Participants were assigned to either a distraction card group, a kaleidoscope group, or a control group.
- Pain levels were assessed using the visual analog scale.
Main Results:
- Children in both the distraction card and kaleidoscope groups reported significantly less pain compared to the control group (P < .001).
- No statistically significant difference in pain reduction was observed between the distraction card and kaleidoscope groups (P > .05).
- Both interventions demonstrated effectiveness in mitigating procedural pain.
Conclusions:
- Distraction cards and kaleidoscopes are effective non-pharmacological methods for reducing phlebotomy-related pain in children.
- Educating children and parents about procedures and training nurses in using these distraction tools can enhance pain management.
- Integrating these simple interventions can improve the overall experience of pediatric patients during medical procedures.
Purpose:
The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of distraction cards and a kaleidoscope in reducing pain during phlebotomy procedures among children aged 6 to 12.
Design:
This randomized controlled study involved intervention groups and a control group.
Methods:
Data were obtained by the use of an information form and the visual analog scale. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics as well as Kruskal-Wallis, Wilcoxon, and post hoc tests.
Findings:
During the phlebotomy, children in the control group experienced more pain than children in the distraction cards group and kaleidoscope group (P < .001). There was no significant difference between pain scores of the two intervention groups (P > .05). Both methods were found to be effective in reducing pain.
Conclusions:
It may be helpful to inform children and parents about the process before procedural interventions. Nurses would likely benefit from education on the use of distraction cards and kaleidoscope to be used during procedural interventions.
