title: OC39 - The efficacy of a participatory approach in reducing pain related to venepuncture in children.
abstract: Theme:
  
  
  METHODS
  dignity and humanity.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Venepuncture represents traumatic experience in childhood due to pain and discomfort.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare the efficacy of a participatory approach with preliminary ice application to the skin.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two age-groups (respectively 3-7 and *8 years) were considered during day-hospital, hospitalization, and ER accesses. Venepuncture was described to patients with fables or illustration according to the age-group. Ice or cool-water-pack was randomly applied to skin for one minute before venepuncture. Pain measurement scales were Wong-Baker and VAS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Preliminary data (55 patients) showed that the 3-7 years age group had better pain tolerance with a participatory approach, whilst ice was better in the older group. Generally previous venepunctures seem to worsen pain feeling.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Imagination seems to influence pain feeling in the 3-7 age group, while ice is more important in the older group. Previous experiences mark negatively successive venepunctures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Participatory approaches can be cost-effective and influences positively venepuncture in the future.
authors.affiliation: Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gazzelloni
authors.affiliation: 'San Carlo' Hospital - Potenza, Italy.
authors.forename: Mariagrazia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maio
authors.affiliation: 'San Carlo' Hospital - Potenza, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Romano
authors.affiliation: 'San Carlo' Hospital - Potenza, Italy.
authors.forename: Iolanda
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Marcone
authors.affiliation: 'San Carlo' Hospital - Potenza, Italy.
authors.forename: Franca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Marino
authors.affiliation: 'San Carlo' Hospital - Potenza, Italy.
authors.forename: Monia Cosima
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Labalestra
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007053:Ice; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000523:psychology*; D059408:Pain Management / Q000379:methods* / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D018962:Phlebotomy / Q000379:methods* / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology*
chemical_list: D007053:Ice
keywords: Children; ice; illustration; pain; venepuncture.