The effect of visual and/or auditory distraction techniques on children's pain, anxiety and medical fear in invasive procedures: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

PurposeThis study was conducted to determine the effects of visual and/or auditory distraction techniques applied to children aged 7–12 during invasive procedures on pain, anxiety, and medical fear. MethodsThis single-blinded, randomized controlled trial was carried out in the pediatric emergency department of a public hospital between November 2021 and March 2022. In the study, 144 children were assigned to three different intervention groups, in which a kaleidoscope, music, and virtual reality were applied during invasive procedures, and the control group in which the standard invasive procedure was applied, by using the stratified block randomization method. The data were collected using a Personal Information Form, Wong-Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale, Children's Anxiety Meter-State, and Child Medical Fear Scale. ResultsIn the study, the levels of pain, anxiety, and medical fear after the invasive procedure were lower in the intervention groups than in the control group. In addition, there was no difference between the three different distraction techniques in terms of reducing pain and medical fear, but the virtual reality application was more effective in reducing the level of anxiety. ConclusionVisual and/or auditory distraction techniques are effective methods that can be used by nurses in pediatric healthcare to reduce invasive procedure-related pain, anxiety, and medical fear. Implications for practiceThis study provides evidence that can guide the use of non-pharmacological methods such as distraction to prevent the traumatic effects of invasive procedures in children.