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Comparing Nonpharmacological Interventions for Pain, Fear, and Satisfaction: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Ramazan Bozkurt1, Özlem Doğu1, Hacer Efnan Melek Arsoy2
1Sakarya University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Nursing Department, Fundamentals of Nursing, Sakarya, Türkiye.
Insights
Palm stimulators and cartoons significantly reduced pain and fear during peripheral intravenous catheterization (PIC) in children. These nonpharmacological methods offer effective pain management alternatives for pediatric procedures.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nursing
- Pain Management
- Child Psychology
Background:
- Peripheral intravenous catheterization (PIC) is a common but often painful procedure for children.
- Nonpharmacological interventions are sought to mitigate pain and anxiety during pediatric procedures.
- NCT06772259
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the effectiveness of palm stimulators and cartoons against a control group for managing pain and fear during pediatric PIC.
- To assess the impact of these interventions on patient and parent satisfaction and procedure duration.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial involving 90 children aged 5-12 years.
- Participants were allocated to three groups: palm stimulator, cartoon viewing, or control.
- Pain, fear, and satisfaction were assessed by the child, parent, and observer before, during, and after PIC.
Main Results:
- Both palm stimulators and cartoons significantly reduced pain scores before, during, and after PIC compared to the control group.
- Fear scores during PIC were significantly lower in the intervention groups than in the control group.
- No significant difference in overall satisfaction was found, though palm stimulator satisfaction was notably higher. PIC duration was shortest in the control group.
Conclusions:
- Palm stimulators and cartoons are effective nonpharmacological interventions for reducing pain and fear in children undergoing PIC.
- These methods provide comparable benefits in managing procedural pain and anxiety.
- While overall satisfaction did not differ, specific satisfaction with the palm stimulator was higher, suggesting its potential as a preferred intervention.
Purpose:
To compare the effects of nonpharmacological interventions on pain, fear, satisfaction, and duration of peripheral intravenous catheterization (PIC) in children.
Design:
A randomized controlled trial.
Materials And Methods:
The study was conducted in a training and research hospital in northwest Türkiye between October 2023 and March 2024 with 90 patients, ages 5-12. Children were divided into three groups using a simple randomization method: (1) palm stimulator (n = 30), (2) cartoon (n = 30), and (3) control (n = 30). The child, parent, and observer assessed the children's pain and fear levels before, during, and after PIC. After PIC, the children's and parents' satisfaction was evaluated.
Results:
The average age of the children was 7.81 ± 2.62. The pain scores recorded for the intervention groups before, during, and one minute after the PIC were significantly lower than those of the control group. The fear scores reported by the children during the PIC were as follows: 1.26 ± 1.50 in the palm stimulator group, 1.33 ± 1.32 in the cartoon group, and 2.76 ± 1.38 in the control group, indicating a statistically significant difference between the groups. However, there was no significant difference in the satisfaction scores of children and parents across the groups. Additionally, the duration of the PIC was the shortest in the control group.
Conclusions:
The use of palm stimulators and cartoons as nonpharmacological methods in pain intervention for children significantly reduced pain levels before, during, and after procedures. This study, which included evaluations by children, parents, and observer, found that the palm stimulator impacted pain and fear levels comparable to watching a familiar cartoon. Although there was no difference in overall procedure satisfaction between the groups, the satisfaction score for the palm stimulator was notably higher.
Clinical Implications:
The palm stimulator and cartoon film methods can reduce pain and fear during PIC in children. These methods significantly reduced the pain and fear of our participants during PIC.
The Clinical Trial Registration Number:
NCT06772259.
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