title: Randomized interventions for needle procedures in children with cancer.
abstract: The aim of this study was to examine whether children experience less fear, distress and pain connected to a routine needle insertion in an intravenous port when subjected to an intervention: blowing soap bubbles or having a heated pillow vs. standard care. Twenty-eight children, 2-7 years, cared for at a paediatric oncology unit, undergoing a routine needle insertion in an intravenous port were included consecutively. All children were subjected to two needle insertions; at the first they received standard care, and at the second standard care + a randomized intervention. Parents and nurses assessed children's fear, distress and pain on 0-100 mm visual analogue scales. According to parents' report, children experienced less fear when subjected to intervention vs. standard care reported by parents (P < 0.001). Children also experienced less fear (P < 0.05) and distress (P < 0.05) when subjected to standard care + blowing soap bubbles vs. standard care (n = 14), and less fear when subjected to standard care + heated pillow vs. standard care (P < 0.05). Nurses' reports did not show any differences for standard care + intervention vs. standard care. Blowing soap bubbles or having a heated pillow is more effective than standard care in reducing children's fear and distress in needle procedures, according to parents' report.
authors.affiliation: Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Unit for Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, Children's University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden. lena.heden@kbh.uu.se
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hedén
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: VON Essen
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ljungman
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D010146:Pain / Q000523:psychology*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010988:Play and Playthings; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology