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The influence of distraction on pain and anxiety during venipuncture in children aged between 8 and 11 years

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Netherlands journal of psychology

Samenvatting

Objective: As in adults, psychological factors such as stress, anxiety and the impact of the medical procedure may influence the experience of procedure pain in children. In this study we focused on pain during venipuncture in children. Anxiety seems to be an important predictor of the pain experience. Cognitive processes of anxiety, such as catastrophising and avoidance behaviour, can be influenced in various ways. One way of reducing pain and anxiety is distraction.

Methods: A randomised and controlled experimental design study was conducted in a research population of 20 ambulatory patients aged between 8 and 11 years old, who were referred to the specialised department for child venipuncture at the University Hospital of Maastricht. Our distraction intervention was completing a find-the-hidden-items puzzle. Control patients did not receive any distraction.

Results: Distraction did not reduce pain and anxiety in the experimental group as compared with the control group. Children with high anxiety reported more pain than children with low anxiety. The results for catastrophising showed the same trend as the low- and high-anxiety groups, but were not statistically significant. Distraction lowers anxiety in children who do not watch the venipuncture, but not in children who prefer to watch the venipuncture.

Conclusion: Distraction can be an effective intervention to decrease pain and anxiety, when controlling for anxiety levels and eye orientation. (Netherlands Journal of Psychology, 63, 21-28.)

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    Karoline L. H. Vangronsveld, Johanna H. C. van den Hout & Johan W. S. Vlaeyen

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  1. Karoline L. H. Vangronsveld
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  2. Johanna H. C. van den Hout
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  3. Johan W. S. Vlaeyen
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* Department of Medical, Clinical and Experimental Psychology, Maastricht University

** RIAGG Maastricht

Correspondence to: Karoline L.H. Vangronsveld, Department of Medical, Clinical and Experimental Psychology, Maastricht University, PO Box 616, NL 6200 MD Maastricht. E-mail: k.vangronsveld@dmkep.unimaas.nl

Submitted 23 February 2006; revision accepted 20 December 2006.

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Vangronsveld, K.L.H., van den Hout, J.H.C. & Vlaeyen, J.W.S. The influence of distraction on pain and anxiety during venipuncture in children aged between 8 and 11 years. NEJP 63, 18–24 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03061058

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