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Children's experiences of intravenous injection using the draw, write, and tell method: A mixed-methods study
1Department of Nursing, Chosun University, South Korea.
Insights
Children experience moderate pain and fear during intravenous (IV) injections. Parental support and child-centered strategies are crucial for pain and anxiety management during these procedures.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nursing
- Child Psychology
- Pain Management
Background:
- Intravenous (IV) injections are common procedures in pediatric healthcare.
- Understanding children's experiences of pain and fear during IV injections is essential for effective care.
- Current strategies may not fully address the multifaceted needs of children undergoing IV procedures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore children's perceptions and experiences of receiving IV injections.
- To identify self-reported pain scores and effective management strategies.
- To enhance support for children during IV injections.
Main Methods:
- A mixed-methods study involving 17 children aged 4-11 years.
- Data collection using the Draw, Write, and Tell (DWT) method and Facial Pain Rating Scale.
- Descriptive statistics and content analysis of qualitative data.
Main Results:
- Children reported a mean pain score of 4.82, indicating moderate pain, with sensations of pain, tingling, or stinging.
- Fear of needles, in addition to pain, was identified through children's drawings and narratives.
- Key themes included physical/emotional experiences, the role of parents as a secure base, and comfort/relief strategies.
Conclusions:
- Children effectively communicated their experiences and suggested comfort strategies through visual and verbal methods.
- Parents are vital in alleviating pain, anxiety, and distress during IV procedures.
- Arts-based, child-centered approaches like DWT are valuable for understanding children's experiences; family-centered care enhances comfort during IV injections.
Purposes:
This study aimed to explore children's perceptions and experiences of receiving intravenous (IV) injections and the self-reported pain scores and management strategies that can support children while receiving IV injections.
Design And Methods:
This mixed-methods study included 17 children aged 4-11 years who presented to the outpatient clinic of a pediatric hospital and received IV injections. Data were collected using the draw, write, and tell method (DWT) and Facial Pain Rating Scale. Descriptive statistics and content analyses were performed.
Results:
The children's self-reported mean pain score was 4.82, indicating moderate pain. Many expressions indicated that IV injections were painful or caused tingling or stinging sensations. A vague fear of needles in addition to pain was identified after listening to the children and analyzing their own interpretation of drawings. Three main themes were identified: (1) physical and emotional experiences, (2) parents as my secure base, and (3) comfort and relief strategies.
Conclusions:
Children expressed their experiences during IV injections, the alleviation of their pain and fear, and their suggestions for comfort and relief strategies visually, auditorily, and verbally. Parents played an important role in supporting their children and reducing pain, anxiety, and distress related to the IV procedure.
Practice Implications:
The DWT, as an arts-based and child-centered approach, is a useful and valid method to understand children's experience related to the IV injection. Children experience comfort and relief within a family-centered care context during IV injection. Nurses should promote children's and parents' participation in the development of strategies to reduce the negative effects of IV injections in children.
