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Arch Dis Child 2006;91:1015-1017 doi:10.1136/adc.2006.097246
  • Original article

Analgesic effect of watching TV during venipuncture

  1. C V Bellieni,
  2. D M Cordelli,
  3. M Raffaelli,
  4. B Ricci,
  5. G Morgese,
  6. G Buonocore
  1. Department of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Reproduction Medicine, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
  1. Correspondence to:
    Dr C V Bellieni
    U.O. Terapia Intensiva Neonatale, Università degli Studi di Siena, Policlinico “Le Scotte”, Viale Mario Bracci, 16, 53100 Siena, Italy; bellieni{at}iol.it
  • Accepted 11 July 2006
  • Published Online First 18 August 2006

Abstract

Aims: To assess the analgesic effect of passive or active distraction during venipuncture in children.

Methods: We studied 69 children aged 7–12 years undergoing venipuncture. The children were randomly divided into three groups: a control group (C) without any distraction procedure, a group (M) in which mothers performed active distraction, and a TV group (TV) in which passive distraction (a TV cartoon) was used. Both mothers and children scored pain after the procedure.

Results: Main pain levels rated by the children were 23.04 (standard deviation (SD) 24.57), 17.39 (SD 21.36), and 8.91 (SD 8.65) for the C, M, and TV groups, respectively. Main pain levels rated by mothers were 21.30 (SD 19.9), 23.04 (SD 18.39), and 12.17 (SD 12.14) for the C, M, and TV groups, respectively. Scores assigned by mothers and children indicated that procedures performed during TV watching were less painful (p<0.05) than control or procedures performed during active distraction.

Conclusion: TV watching was more effective than active distraction. This was due either to the emotional participation of the mothers in the active procedure or to the distracting power of television.

Footnotes

  • Published Online First 18 August 2006

  • Competing interests: None declared.

Responses to this article

  • Nonsense
    • William Broussard
    ADC published online November 27, 2007

This Article

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  4. All versions of this article:
    1. adc.2006.097246v1
    2. 91/12/1015 most recent

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