The effect on pain and anxiety levels of using DistrACTION® Cards to distract children during a skin-prick test: a randomized controlled experimental study.

Abstract

The effect of using DistrACTION® Cards (MMJ Labs, Atlanta, GA, USA) to distract children aged 6-10 during a skin-prick test on their levels of pain and anxiety was explored in this study. The study was conducted as randomized, controlled, experimental research with a total of 104 children presenting at a hospital for a skin-prick test, 52 of whom comprised in the experimental and 52 in the control group. DistrACTION® Cards (MMJ Labs) were employed in the experimental group of children to distract their attention during a skin prick test by observer nurse. The observer nurse asked each child to look at the pictures on the cards and answer her questions. The pictures on the cards portray various details. The children's pain and anxiety levels were independently assessed on the basis of the feedback provided by the children, the observer nurse and the parents. The children's pain levels were assessed with the Wong-Baker Pain Scale (W-BPS) and their anxiety levels with the Children's Fear Scale (CFS). No intervention was carried out for the children in the control group. It was found that the children's pain scores during (distraction group [D]: 0.57±1.14; control group [C]: 3.15±3.07) and after the procedure (D: 0.05±0.23; C: 2.32±3.42) were significantly lower than those of the control group. It was seen that the anxiety scores of the experimental group during (D: 0.63±0.97; C: 2.69±1.26) and after the procedure (D: 0.11±0.37; C: 1.82±1.53) were significantly lower than those of the control group. It was observed that the use of DistrACTION® Cards (MMJ Labs) during a skin prick test was effective in reducing children's pain and anxiety levels.