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Audiovisual distraction for pain relief in paediatric inpatients: A crossover study
Author(s) -
Oliveira N.C.A.C.,
Santos J.L.F.,
Linhares M.B.M.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
european journal of pain
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.305
H-Index - 109
eISSN - 1532-2149
pISSN - 1090-3801
DOI - 10.1002/ejp.915
Subject(s) - distraction , medicine , visual analogue scale , crossover study , intervention (counseling) , randomized controlled trial , physical therapy , pain catastrophizing , statistical significance , psychology , chronic pain , surgery , psychiatry , placebo , alternative medicine , pathology , neuroscience
Background Pain is a stressful experience that can have a negative impact on child development. The aim of this crossover study was to examine the efficacy of audiovisual distraction for acute pain relief in paediatric inpatients. Method The sample comprised 40 inpatients (6–11 years) who underwent painful puncture procedures. The participants were randomized into two groups, and all children received the intervention and served as their own controls. Stress and pain‐catastrophizing assessments were initially performed using the Child Stress Scale and Pain Catastrophizing Scale for Children, with the aim of controlling these variables. The pain assessment was performed using a Visual Analog Scale and the Faces Pain Scale‐Revised after the painful procedures. Group 1 received audiovisual distraction before and during the puncture procedure, which was performed again without intervention on another day. The procedure was reversed in Group 2. Audiovisual distraction used animated short films. A 2 × 2 × 2 analysis of variance for 2 × 2 crossover study was performed, with a 5% level of statistical significance. Results The two groups had similar baseline measures of stress and pain catastrophizing. A significant difference was found between periods with and without distraction in both groups, in which scores on both pain scales were lower during distraction compared with no intervention. The sequence of exposure to the distraction intervention in both groups and first versus second painful procedure during which the distraction was performed also significantly influenced the efficacy of the distraction intervention. Conclusion Audiovisual distraction effectively reduced the intensity of pain perception in paediatric inpatients. Significance The crossover study design provides a better understanding of the power effects of distraction for acute pain management. Audiovisual distraction was a powerful and effective non‐pharmacological intervention for pain relief in paediatric inpatients. The effects were detected in subsequent acute painful procedures.