Background: Intravenous (IV) cannulation is a common and painful procedure for hospitalized children. Non-pharmacological techniques like distraction can reduce pain and anxiety. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a kaleidoscope as a distraction tool in managing pain and behavioral responses during IV cannulization. Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of a kaleidoscope on pain and behavioral responses during IV cannulization in the experimental group. To compare pain and behavioral responses in experimental and control groups. To assess the association between pain and behavioral responses with selected demographic variables. Methods: A quasi-experimental non-equivalent control group design was adopted. A total of 30 children aged 4-10 years undergoing IV cannulization at the SDM Hospital Paediatric Ward were selected using a non-probability purposive sampling technique. The experimental group (n=15) was exposed to a kaleidoscope, while the control group (n=15) received standard care. Pain levels were measured using the Wong-Baker Faces Pain Scale, and behavioural responses were assessed using a Modified Behavioural Pain Scale. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. Results: The mean post-test pain score for the experimental group (M=0.73) was significantly lower than the control group (M=4.2) (t=15.22, p<0.05). Similarly, the mean behavioural response score for the experimental group (M=1.47) was significantly lower than the control group (M=8.33) (t=17.27, p<0.05). A significant association was found between post-test pain scores and demographic variables like family type in the experimental group and gender in the control group. In the experimental group, 33% of children reported no pain (score 0), and 60% reported only a little pain (score 1). Meanwhile, in the control group, 53.3% reported a whole lot of pain (score 4), and 33.3% reported the worst pain (score 5). For behavioural responses, 73% of children in the experimental group displayed mild responses, whereas 67% in the control group exhibited severe behavioural responses such as crying and avoidance. The statistical analysis further highlighted significant differences in pain and behavioural responses between the groups, reinforcing the effectiveness of the kaleidoscope as a distraction tool. Notably, variables like type of family and gender influenced outcomes, emphasizing the importance of considering demographic factors in pain management strategies. Conclusion: The study demonstrated that the kaleidoscope is an effective distraction tool for reducing pain and behavioural responses among children undergoing IV cannulization. Incorporating such non-pharmacological interventions in Paediatric nursing practice can improve the quality of care and patient experience.
Rangappa.S. Ashi (Mon,) studied this question.