Effectiveness of Animated Cartoon Video as a Distraction Strategy on Pain Perception during and after Venipuncture among Preschoolers

Background Venipuncture is a minor invasive procedure, but for children it is also accompanied by pain, fear and anxiety. According to the International Association for the Study of Pain, Pain is an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage. When a child is brought to the hospital, the environment itself makes the child anxious and unsecure. Thus, the investigator intended to conduct a study to assess the effectiveness of animated cartoon video as a distracter to reduce pain during venipuncture among preschoolers. Objectives 1. To show the animated cartoon video to preschoolers prior to venipuncture in the experimental group.2. To assess the pain by using modified FLACC scale in preschoolers during and after venipuncture in experimental and control group.3. To evaluate the effectiveness of animated cartoon video in reduction of pain perception by comparing post pain assessment score between experimental and control group. Method The research approach adopted for the study was quantitative evaluative survey approach and the research design used was quasi experimental, non-equivalent, control group posttest only. By using non-probability purposive sampling, 32 preschoolers were selected.16 in experimental group (Vardhan Child Hospital and Niramaya Hospital, Kolhapur) and 16 in control group (Shri Ram Hospital and Om Sai Child Hospital, Kolhapur). The content validity and reliability of the tool was done, which suggested that the tool was reliable (r =0.85). Pain scores were assessed during and after venipuncture by using modified FLACC scale. Data was tabulated and analyzed using mean, median, mode, range, standard deviation and unpaired t test. ResultsThe results of the study revealed that the calculated unpairedt value (tcal = 3.81) is greater than tabulated value (ttab= 2.04) during venipuncture and the calculated unpairedt value (tcal = 5.06) is greater than tabulated value (ttab= 2.04) after venipuncture. Hence H1 is accepted. This indicates that there is statistically significant difference between the mean post assessment pain score value of experimental and the control groups. (p less than 0.05). Conclusion The present study revealed that majority of preschoolers had severe pain during venipuncture which was found to decrease after the intervention of animated cartoon video as a distraction strategy. Thus, the study concluded that animated cartoon video is effective in reducing pain perception among preschoolers.