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Premedical Procedure Anxiety for Intravenous Cannulation in Hospitalized Children: A Facility-based Cross-sectional
Sunil Baliga1, S R Ravikiran2, Rajath Rao3
1Department of Pediatrics, Yenepoya Medical College Hospital, Yenepoya (Deemed to be University), Mangaluru, Karnataka, India.
Aims And Background:
Inpatient children may experience varying anxiety regarding intravenous (IV) cannulation. This study assessed preprocedural anxiety and procedural pain levels and determined their correlation.
Methods:
We conducted an observational cross-sectional study involving 4-10-year-old children. Preprocedural anxiety was assessed by the Venham picture test (VPT) and Raghavendra, Madhuri, and Sujata pictorial scale (RMS-PS) while the revised faces pain scale (FPS-R) evaluated pain perception at the IV cannulation site. We analyzed the data via SPSS version 25.
Results:
Out of 385 children, the majority (234, 60.8%) were aged 4-7 years, and 57.4% were boys. The 4-7-year-olds had significantly higher anxiety levels (p < 0.001), with no significant difference between the sexes. High to very anxiety was reported in 24.7%, while 13% had average anxiety (VPT), and 49% were somewhat happy (RMS-PS). Children who underwent first-time cannulation had higher median anxiety, and we found no significant difference in comparison to those with prior IV cannulation experience. Preprocedural anxiety significantly correlated with procedural pain (Spearman's rho: VPT vs FPS: 0.76; RMS vs FPS: 0.66, both p < 0.001), with a stronger correlation in children with no prior IV cannulation experience.
Conclusions:
Younger children and those experiencing first-time IV cannulation reported higher anxiety, with a significant correlation to procedural pain.
Clinical Significance:
Self-report anxiety assessment tools usage can help pediatric teams identify and implement strategies to alleviate anxiety and create a comfortable atmosphere for inpatient children.
How To Cite This Article:
Baliga S, SR R, Rao R, et al. Premedical Procedure Anxiety for Intravenous Cannulation in Hospitalized Children: A Facility-based Cross-sectional Study. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2025;18(11):1333-1338.
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