The Effectiveness of Distraction (Cartoon-Patterned Clothes and Bubble-Blowing) on Pain and Anxiety in Preschool Children during Venipuncture in the Emergency Department

Abstract

In preschool children, venipuncture is considered a bodily threat that can cause pain and anxiety, as well as being a traumatic experience. If the pain and anxiety felt by a child during a venipuncture is not addressed properly, it can result in a traumatic experience, and traumatic events in childhood can have long-term consequences. Atraumatic treatment in the emergency department has been little explored in previous research; therefore, the present study assessed the effectiveness of using the distractions of cartoon-patterned clothes and bubble-blowing on the pain and anxiety of preschool children during venipuncture in the emergency department. This was a quasi-experiment that used a post-test only, control group design approach. The sample consisted of 57 preschool children who were due to undergo venipuncture and who were divided into 3 intervention groups. The results showed that distraction using bubble-blowing is effective in reducing pain and anxiety during venipuncture, while cartoon-patterned clothing is only effective in reducing anxiety. Distractions can refocus the attention of a child away from pain and anxiety during venipuncture. It can inhibit the transmission of pain impulses, such that these impulses are not transmitted to the brain. As a result, the sensation of pain is not experienced.

Squeezing A Squishy Object Effectively Controls Pain in Children during Intravenous Catheter Insertion

“… 20 This finding is consistent with that of a study conducted on 57 pre-school children who were subjected to a distraction involving blowing bubbles during venipuncture; the study reported lower pain levels in these children during the procedure. 10 …”

Managing acute pain in children presenting to the emergency department without opioids

“…65 Most of the published clinical trials on cognitive and behavioral strategies conducted in the ED setting used some form of distraction. [66][67][68][69][70][71][72][73][74][75][76][77] The most commonly reported procedures were venipuncture and laceration repair. All except 2 66,77 of these studies reported some degree of improved observed pain/distress (by parents or observers) or self-reported pain with intervention.…”

“…Most of the published clinical trials on cognitive and behavioral strategies conducted in the ED setting used some form of distraction 66–77 . The most commonly reported procedures were venipuncture and laceration repair.…”

Teknik Distraksi Rompi Motif Kartun Mempengaruhi Perilaku Kecemasan Anak

“…Fungsi gambar motif kartun yaitu untuk hiburan, terkandung juga fungsi informatif, maupun edukatif bahkan persuasif. Manfaat kartun bagi anak-anak yaitu: sebagai hiburan, melatih daya tangkap anak, menanamkan nilai-nilai dan melatih kreatifitas anak (7). Adapun tujuan dari penelitian ini untuk mengetahui pengaruh teknik distraksi penggunaan rompi motif kartun terhadap perilaku kecemasan pada anak usia pra sekolah di Rumah Sakit Tk.II Udayana.…”

“…Fungsi gambar motif kartun yaitu untuk hiburan, terkandung juga fungsi informatif, maupun edukatif bahkan persuasif. Manfaat kartun bagi anak-anak yaitu: sebagai hiburan, melatih daya tangkap anak, menanamkan nilai-nilai dan melatih kreatifitas anak (7).…”