No pain, if you’ve got game
Allowing children to engage in “active” distraction techniques—such as playing a video game—during venipuncture can lead to reduced pain and anxiety.
PRACTICE CHANGER
Employ active distraction, such as playing a video game, rather than passive distraction (eg, watching a video) to reduce pain and anxiety during pediatric venipuncture.
STRENGTH OF RECOMMENDATION
B: Based on a single, high-quality, randomized controlled trial (RCT). 1
Inan G, Inal S. The impact of 3 different distraction techniques on the pain and anxiety levels of children during venipuncture: a clinical trial. Clin J Pain. 2019;35:140-147.
Furthermore, the study was conducted at a single institution in Turkey. There could be cultural differences in reporting of pain and anxiety compared to Western cultures.
Finally, the average duration of the procedure in this study was 3 minutes, with a range of 1 to 5 minutes. It is unclear if the findings can be extrapolated to more time-consuming procedures.
CHALLENGES TO IMPLEMENTATION
Technology is not available to all
The use of tablet computers may seem increasingly ubiquitous, but not all families have access to these devices. Another challenge is that phlebotomy/clinic personnel must learn to work around the device.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The PURLs Surveillance System was supported in part by Grant Number UL1RR024999 from the National Center for Research Resources, a Clinical Translational Science Award to the University of Chicago. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Center for Research Resources or the National Institutes of Health.
