The Effect of Acupressure on Acute Pain During Venipuncture in Children: Implications for Evidence-Based Practice.

AIMS: The study was conducted as a randomized controlled trial in order to determine the effects of acupressure on acute pain during venipuncture in children. METHODS: The population of the study consisted of children, aged between 9 and 12 years, who received venipuncture between September 2015 and June 2016 at a university hospital in Istanbul. The sample consisted of a total of 90 children, including 45 children in the acupressure group and 45 children in the control group, who met the sample inclusion criteria. The results of the study were obtained by using an information form, the State Anxiety Inventory for Children (STAIC), the visual analog scale (VAS), and the Faces Pain Scale-Revised (FPS-R). Acupressure was applied to the children in the acupressure group for 10 min before the venipuncture procedure. Pain, heart rate, and oxygen saturation levels of the children in the acupressure and control groups were evaluated both before and after the venipuncture procedure. RESULTS: The children in the acupressure and control groups were found to be similar in terms of age, gender, parents' educational levels and working status, number of venipuncture procedures, and mean anxiety scores. In the evaluation that was conducted before the venipuncture procedure, no statistically significant differences were observed between the heat rates, oxygen saturation levels, and expected pain scores from the venipuncture procedure in the children in the acupressure and control groups. On the other hand, it was observed that the children in the acupressure group (VAS: 19.51 ± 4.98; FPS-R: 2.08 ± 0.41) experienced less pain than the children in the control group (VAS: 47.37 ± 9.89; FPS-R: 4.84 ± 1.08), and there was a significant difference between the two groups (p< .000). LINKING EVIDENCE TO ACTION: Acupressure administration is effective in reducing the pain that is experienced by children during a venipuncture procedure.

The Effect of Virtual Reality and Kaleidoscope on Pain and Anxiety Levels During Venipuncture in Children.

PURPOSE: The study aimed to determine the effect of two different distractions on pain perceptions and anxiety during venipuncture in children. DESIGN: A randomized controlled study. METHODS: A total of 139 children aged between 4 and 10 years were included in the study: 46 of them in virtual reality goggle group and 43 in the control group. An information form, the Children's Anxiety Scale, Visual Analogue Scale, and Wong-Baker Faces Pain Scale were used in the collection of data. FINDINGS: Pain and anxiety scores were significantly lower in the virtual reality goggle and kaleidoscope group than in the control group (P < .000). CONCLUSIONS: The use of virtual reality goggle and kaleidoscope methods during venipuncture are effective in reducing children's perception of pain and anxiety. The most effective method of reducing perception of pain and anxiety is using the virtual reality goggle.

The effects of acupressure and foot massage on pain during heel lancing in neonates: A randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of foot massage and acupressure on pain during heel lancing in neonates. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial was performed in a university hospital in Turkey between February and December 2018. The neonates were randomized into three groups as acupressure, massage, and control groups. Acupressure was applied to the neonates in the acupressure group, and massage was given to the neonates in the massage group for 2 min before the heel lancing procedure. Pain responses of the neonates in the groups was evaluated with the Neonatal Infant Pain Scale during and 1 min after the heel lancing procedure. RESULTS: The study was completed with 139 neonates including 46 neonates in the acupressure group, 47 neonates in the foot massage group, and 46 neonates in the control group. There were statistically significant differences between the acupressure, massage and control groups in terms of their mean NIPS scores during (4.30 ±â€¯2.25, 3.95 ±â€¯2.63, 6.04 ±â€¯1.26; respectively) and 1 min after the heel lancing procedure (1.46 ±â€¯1.46, 1.66 ±â€¯1.66, 3.85 ±â€¯1.37; respectively). There was a significant difference in NIPS scores between the intervention groups and the control groups (p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Acupressure and massage were effective in reducing pain in neonates during the heel lancing procedure. However, there was no statistically significant difference between acupressure and massage. Acupressure and massage techniques can be applied for procedural pain management in the newborn.