Breathing Toy for Pain Relief in Pediatric Venipuncture

Plain-language summary

This randomized controlled trial evaluated the effectiveness of a realistic breathing toy distraction intervention on procedural pain, physiological parameters, and parental anxiety during venipuncture in children aged 1-3 years presenting to a pediatric emergency department. Eighty children were randomly assigned to receive either a breathing toy distraction (experimental group, n=40) or standard care (control group, n=40) during blood collection. The breathing toy is a realistic plush dog that simulates breathing movements with its abdomen rising and falling while producing breathing sounds. The primary outcome was pain intensity measured by the Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability (FLACC) behavioral pain scale at 1 minute after the procedure. Secondary outcomes included heart rate, oxygen saturation, crying duration, and parental anxiety measured by the Beck Anxiety Inventory. Results demonstrated significant reductions in pain scores (51% reduction), heart rate elevation, crying duration (72% reduction), and parental anxiety in the experimental group compared to the control group. No adverse events occurred. This simple, cost-effective intervention can be readily integrated into routine pediatric practice with minimal staff training.

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