The Effect of Finger Puppets on Postoperative Pain in Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Objective: This study was conducted to determine the effect of finger puppet plays on the postoperative pain relief in children. Methods: This study was conducted with 90 children who were aged between 1-5 years and who underwent surgery in 2016 in Turkey. The children were randomly divided into three groups. The control group (n=30) was given routine treatment (analgesic treatment), intervention group 1 (n=30) was played finger puppet by nurse, and intervention group 2 (n=30) was played finger puppet by parents. Data collection instruments were “Child and Parent Assessment Form”, “Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Pain Scale” and “PedsQL Health Care Parent Satisfaction Scale”. After the intervention, the pain of children was evaluated by “Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Pain Scale” and the satisfaction of the parents was evaluated by “PedsQL Health Care Parent Satisfaction Scale”. Results: Mean score of the pain scale in the control group was found higher than the intervention groups 1 and 2 (p<0.001). Mean score of satisfaction in control group was found lower than intervention group 1 and 2 (p<0.001). Conclusion: This study highlights that finger puppet plays can be used to decrease postoperative pain by the nurses as an independent role.