Effectiveness of non-pharmacological measures for reducing pain and fear in children during venipuncture in the emergency department: vibrating colder devices versus distraction
García-Aracil N, Ramos-Pichardo JD, Castejón-de la Encina ME, José-Alcaide L, Juliá-Sanchís R, Sanjuán-Quiles A
Affiliation of the authors
Departamento de Enfermería de la Universidad de Alicante, Spain. Servicio de Emergencias Sanitarias de Alicante, Spain. Departamento de Enfermería de la Universidad de Huelva, Spain.
García-Aracil N, Ramos-Pichardo JD, Castejón-de la Encina ME, José-Alcaide L, Juliá-Sanchís R, Sanjuán-Quiles A. Effectiveness of non-pharmacological measures for reducing pain and fear in children during venipuncture in the emergency department: vibrating colder devices versus distraction. Emergencias. 2018;30:182-5
Summary
Objective.
To assess the effectiveness of a physical method of managing pain and fear in children and anxiety in the accompanying adult during venous puncture in the emergency department.
Methods.
Quasi-experimental study of 3 groups: one group used a combination of directed distraction by means of a vibration device with ice pack, a second group received only distraction, and no strategy was used in the third.
Results.
Pain and adult anxiety were similar in the 2 groups in which a pain management strategy was applied. Pain and adult anxiety were greater when no strategy was adopted. We detected no differences in the level of the children’s fear.
Conclusions.
Directed distraction can be useful for managing pain in children and it reduces the anxiety experienced by accompanying adults. The use of a vibration device with ice does not add benefits. Fear is not reduced by any of
