Using of Distraction Methods on Procedural Pain Management of Pediatric Patients

Abstract

Medical procedures such as phlebotomy and injections are the most important sources of pain for children. Pain causes children to be frightened of needles and this leads to unwillingness to medical procedures such as vaccine administration, injections and phlebotomy, even may result in neglect or delay in treatment and care. Thus, the nurse should be able to manage painful procedures to reduce emotional and physical effects of painful procedures and to avoid long-term results of pain in children. There are many different approaches to the treatment of procedural pain and anxiety of children during medical procedures, including pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods. In recent years research focusing on nurses' use of non-pharmacological methods for pain relief of children's has increased. Present widely used non-pharmacological method for pain relief of children during painful medical procedures is distraction methods. Distraction is a nursing attempt focusing patient's attention to any other stimulants to control and reduce pain better. The rationale for the pain-reducing effects of distraction hypothesized that the brain has a limited capacity of focusing attention on stimulation. In this article frequently used ditraction method will be discussed.