NCT07249723

Comparison of the Effectiveness of Two Active Distraction Techniques During Venipuncture in Children

Comparison of the Effectiveness of Two Active Distraction Methods in Reducing Pain, Fear, and Anxiety in Children Undergoing Venous Blood Sampling

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 207 (actual)
• Sponsor: Kocaeli University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 7 Years – 12 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

This study was conducted to compare the effects of two active distraction methods-bubble blowing and a material-free cognitive distraction/positive reinforcement technique-applied during venous blood sampling on pain, fear, and anxiety levels in children aged 7-12 years.

Detailed description

Distraction is an effective non-pharmacological nursing intervention used to reduce pain, fear, and anxiety in children during invasive procedures. This approach aims to decrease the child's emotional distress by diverting attention away from the perceived threat. In particular, among children aged 7-12 years, procedure-related fear and avoidance behaviors may increase due to the impact of previous medical experiences; therefore, there is a need for comparative evaluation of effective distraction strategies tailored to this age group. While sensory-kinesthetic methods such as bubble blowing promote active participation, material-free cognitive techniques can be implemented in any setting and offer easily accessible options. However, studies directly comparing these methods remain limited.

Conditions

• Nursing Care
• Pain Management
• Anxiety
• Children

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Bubble Blowing Group	In the Bubble Blowing Group, children were given a bubble toy during the procedure and asked to blow bubbles. This method, which requires active motor participation, was used to divert the children's attention away from the stress of the procedure.
OTHER	Positive Reinforcement Group	In the Positive Reinforcement Group, children performed a non-material cognitive activity of their choice during the procedure (such as counting, reciting a short poem/song, or a word game). At the end of the procedure, verbal positive reinforcement was provided (e.g., "Well done," "You were very brave").

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-04-01
• Primary completion: 2025-06-01
• Completion: 2025-07-15
• First posted: 2025-11-25
• Last updated: 2025-12-03

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Turkey (Türkiye)