@article {8347, title = {Hand-held computers can help to distract children undergoing painful venipuncture procedures.}, journal = {Acta Paediatr}, volume = {105}, year = {2016}, month = {2016 Aug}, pages = {930-4}, abstract = {

AIM: Needle-related procedures can be painful for children, and distraction provides ideal pain relief in blood-drawing centres. This study assessed the effectiveness of playing a computer game during venipuncture, compared with low-tech distraction by a nurse.

METHODS: We conducted this prospective, randomised controlled trial at the blood-drawing centre of a tertiary-level children{\textquoteright}s hospital in Italy. Half of the 200 children played Angry Birds on a hand-held computer while the other half were distracted by a second, specifically trained nurse who sang to them, read a book, blew bubbles or played with puppets. Pain was measured using a faces pain scale for children aged 4-7 years and a numeric scale for children aged 8-13 years.

RESULTS: The 200 children had a median age of eight years. Children reported significant pain in 16 cases (16\%) in the hand-held computer distraction group and in 15 cases (15\%) in the nurse-led low-tech distraction group (p = 0.85). The procedural success rate at the first attempt was not different in the two groups.

CONCLUSION: Playing a game on a hand-held computer meant that only one in six children reported pain during venipuncture, but it was not superior to being distracted by nurses.

}, issn = {1651-2227}, doi = {10.1111/apa.13454}, author = {Crevatin, Franca and Cozzi, Giorgio and Braido, Elena and Bertossa, Gabriella and Rizzitelli, Patrizia and Lionetti, Daniela and Matassi, Daniela and Calusa, Dorotea and Ronfani, Luca and Barbi, Egidio} }