NCT07513272

EFFECT OF BALLS ON PAIN AND ANXIETY DURING VENIPUNCTURE IN CHILDREN

THE EFFECT OF TWO DIFFERENT BALLS USED DURING VENIPUNCTURE IN CHILDREN ON PAIN AND ANXIETY LEVELS: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED STUDY

• Status: Not Yet Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 144 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Ankara University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 7 Years – 12 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether using two different types of balls can reduce pain and anxiety during venipuncture in school-aged children (7-12 years) in a pediatric emergency setting. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does squeezing a soft ball or a textured (ridged) ball during venipuncture reduce perceived pain compared to a control group? Does squeezing a soft ball or a textured (ridged) ball during venipuncture reduce situational anxiety compared to a control group? Researchers will compare the soft ball, textured ball, and control groups to see if the type of ball affects children's pain and anxiety levels. Participants will: Complete a demographic and clinical information form. Use Wong-Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale (WBS) and Child Anxiety Scale-State (ÇAS-D) to report pain and anxiety before, during, and after venipuncture. Squeeze either a soft or textured ball during venipuncture (for experimental groups) while control group children receive standard care without distraction.

Conditions

• Venipuncture-related Pain and Anxiety

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Soft ball	Participants will squeeze a soft, non-resistant ball with the hand opposite to the venipuncture site during blood draw to provide distraction and tactile stimulation. The ball is easily compressible, returns to its original shape, and is safe for repeated use.
OTHER	spiky ball	Participants will squeeze a textured (spiky), resistant ball with the hand opposite to the venipuncture site during blood draw to provide tactile stimulation and distraction. The ball has small rounded protrusions, offers resistance when squeezed, and is safe for repeated use.

Timeline

• Start date: 2026-05-01
• Primary completion: 2026-07-31
• Completion: 2026-12-01
• First posted: 2026-04-07
• Last updated: 2026-04-07