Computer Tablet Distraction in Children Receiving an Injection

Abstract

The use of a tablet as a distraction was not effective in decreasing pain and distress in children receiving an injection.

Hand‐held computers can help to distract children undergoing painful venipuncture procedures

“…One trial showed that parents reported their children felt less pain when they were distracted by an iPad (13), while another study did not show any effect in decreasing pain when children received an injection (12).…”

“…Some reports have drawn attention to the effectiveness of hand-held computers as a form of distraction during painful procedures in children, but there are some gaps that still need to be addressed (11)(12)(13).…”

“…To date, only a few studies have used hand-held computers to provide a distraction and relieve pain during needle procedures (12,13) and none were carried out in the setting of a blood-drawing centre. Moreover, no study has compared the effectiveness of distracting a paediatric patient by getting them to play a game on a hand-held computer with the low-tech distraction provided by specially trained nurses.…”

Improving vaccine-related pain, distress or fear in healthy children and adolescents–a systematic search of patient-focused interventions

“…51 Three studies included participants ranging from 4-12, 52-54 one study had 4-5 and 11-13 year-olds. 55 Sample size ranged from 22 to 239 participants, eight studies had fewer than 50 participants, 11,30,32,40,46,48,49,54 10 had between 51 to 100 participants, [33][34][35][36]38,42,44,45,52,55 and nine studies had more than 100 participants. 31,37,39,41,43,47,50,51,53 Twelve studies used single vaccinations, 11,31,35,[37][38][39]41,[47][48][49][50][51] ten studies used more than one vaccination, 30,[32][33][34]40,42,43,45,53,…”

“…31,37,39,41,43,47,50,51,53 Twelve studies used single vaccinations, 11,31,35,[37][38][39]41,[47][48][49][50][51] ten studies used more than one vaccination, 30,[32][33][34]40,42,43,45,53,55 and five studies used 'routine vaccinations' without specifying the number. 36,44,46,52,54 Vaccinations that were used included Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Diptheria-Tetanus (DT), Diphtheria-Pertussis-Tetanus (DPT/DTP), Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus and Polio (DPTP), Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR), Varicella, Meningococcal and Inactivated Poliovirus (IVP) vaccinations.…”