Trauma-Informed Care Approach During Pediatric Venipuncture: Pre-Post Associations with Fear and Heart Rate

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Psychology
• Child Health
• Trauma-Informed Care

Background:

• Needle procedures like venipuncture cause significant distress and fear in children, especially those with prior trauma.
• Trauma-informed care (TIC) is a framework to mitigate trauma's impact in clinical settings, preventing re-traumatization and aiding emotional regulation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a trauma-informed care (TIC) intervention in reducing distress during venipuncture in children with previous needle-related trauma.

Main Methods:

• A before-and-after study involving 135 children (aged 4-8) with prior venipuncture distress.
• Intervention: TIC-based counseling before the procedure.
• Outcomes measured: Fear, behavioral distress, pain, and heart rate.

Main Results:

• Significant reductions in escape attempts, shouting/crying, and harmful behaviors post-intervention.
• High fear levels decreased from 96.2% to 15.5%.
• Mean heart rate decreased from 113.6 to 87.3 bpm; families reported improved experiences.

Conclusions:

• TIC interventions before venipuncture effectively reduce behavioral distress, fear, and physiological arousal in children with needle trauma.
• Findings suggest the feasibility and value of the TIC model, warranting further controlled studies.