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Effect of EMLA Cream, Cold Spray, and Buzzy on Venipuncture Pain and Fear in Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Mehmet Ali Akdemir1, Aynur Aytekin Ozdemir2
1Department of Therapy and Rehabilitation, Kafkas University, Kagızman Vocational School, Kars, Türkiye.
Insights
EMLA cream, cold spray, and Buzzy significantly reduced venipuncture pain in children. EMLA cream and cold spray were also effective in decreasing children's fear during the procedure.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pain Management
- Medical Interventions
- Child Psychology
Background:
- Venipuncture is a common procedure in pediatric care.
- Pain and fear associated with venipuncture can negatively impact children's experiences.
- Effective strategies are needed to mitigate procedural distress in pediatric patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of EMLA cream, cold spray, and Buzzy in reducing pain and fear during pediatric venipuncture.
- To compare the effectiveness of these interventions against a control group.
- To identify the most effective method for pain and fear reduction in children aged 7-12.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 187 children aged 7-12 years.
- Participants were allocated to four groups: control, EMLA cream, cold spray, or Buzzy.
- Pain and fear levels were assessed using validated scales (Wong-Baker FACES, VAS, Children's Fear Scale).
Main Results:
- All interventions (EMLA, cold spray, Buzzy) significantly reduced venipuncture pain compared to the control group.
- EMLA cream demonstrated the greatest reduction in pain, followed by cold spray, then Buzzy.
- EMLA cream and cold spray were more effective in reducing fear than the control and Buzzy groups.
Conclusions:
- EMLA cream, cold spray, and Buzzy are effective in alleviating venipuncture pain in children.
- EMLA cream and cold spray are particularly effective in reducing fear associated with venipuncture.
- These interventions offer valuable options for improving the pediatric venipuncture experience.
Purpose:
To investigate the impact of EMLA cream, cold spray, and Buzzy applied during venipuncture on the pain and fear levels of children 7 to 12 years of age.
Design:
Randomized controlled trial.
Methods:
This study with four parallel groups was conducted in a pediatric blood collection unit in eastern Türkiye. A total of 187 children were randomized into four groups: control (n = 48), EMLA (n = 46), cold spray (n = 47), and Buzzy (n = 46). The control group underwent a routine venipuncture. The specified method was used before venipuncture in the EMLA (60 minutes before the procedure), cold spray (for 5 seconds immediately before the procedure), and Buzzy (1 minute before the procedure) groups. A descriptive characteristics form, the Wong-Baker FACES Scale, the visual analog scale, and the Children's Fear Scale were used to collect the data.
Findings:
The venipuncture pain levels of children in the EMLA, cold spray, and Buzzy groups were lower than those in the control group (P < .05). The children in the EMLA group had less venipuncture pain than those in the cold spray and Buzzy groups (P < .05). Based on the children's self-assessment, the children in the cold spray group experienced less pain than those in the Buzzy group (P < .05). The children in the EMLA and cold spray groups had lower fear levels during venipuncture than those in the control and Buzzy groups (P < .05).
Conclusions:
EMLA, cold spray, and Buzzy were effective in reducing venipuncture pain, while EMLA and cold spray were effective in reducing venipuncture fear in 7- to 12-year-old children.
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