Highlights
- •Venipuncture is one of the procedures that cause pain, anxiety, and fear in children.
- •Active and passive distraction methods are frequently used in the nursing management of procedural pain in children.
- •Cartoon watching and bubble-blowing are effective methods in reducing venipuncture pain in children.
- •Cartoon watching is more effective than bubble-blowing in reducing venipuncture-induced pain, anxiety, and fear.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aimed to compare the effects of bubble-blowing (active distraction) and
cartoon watching (passive distraction) techniques on pain, anxiety, and fear during
venipuncture in children aged 6–8 years.
Design and methods
This experimental study randomly assigned 56 children aged 6–8 years to cartoon watching
or bubble-blowing groups. The child, parent, and researcher assessed pain using the
Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale, anxiety using the Children's State Anxiety Scale,
and fear using the Children's Fear Scale. The study data were analyzed using the Chi-square
tests and independent Sample t-tests.
Results
The groups were similar in clinical and demographic characteristics. The scores on
pain, anxiety, and fear during the procedure were lower in the cartoon watching group
than in the bubble-blowing group (pain t(47) = 2.638, p = .013; anxiety t(47) = 2.358, p = .023; and fear t(47) = 2.784, p = .008).
Conclusion
This study revealed that cartoon watching as a passive distraction method was more
effective in reducing pain, anxiety, and fear during venipuncture in children aged
6–8 years compared to bubble-blowing as an active distraction method.
Practice implications
The cartoon watching technique, which is affordable, easy to access, and effective
(in reducing pain, anxiety, and fear), can be safely used during venipuncture in children
aged 6–8 years.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: April 08, 2022
Accepted:
March 30,
2022
Received in revised form:
March 27,
2022
Received:
December 29,
2021
Identification
Copyright
© 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
