{"title":"Effectiveness of Digital Counseling for Parents' Use of Nonpharmacological Pain-Relieving Methods in Pediatric Day Surgery.","authors":"Heli Kerimaa, Tarja Pölkki","doi":"10.1016/j.pmn.2025.04.011","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>This study evaluated the effectiveness of digital counseling for parents in using nonpharmacological pain-relieving methods on pediatric day surgery patients.</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>A secondary outcome study of the randomized controlled trial.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The participants included 70 children (aged 2-6 years) and their parents in a Pediatric Day Surgical Department at a university hospital. Parents were randomly assigned to an intervention group (n = 36) using a mobile application to guide nonpharmacological pain management or a control group (n = 34) receiving standard care. Effectiveness was measured by the frequency with which parents prepared their children for day surgery and used various pain-relieving methods, including (1) cognitive-behavioral and (2) physical techniques, (3) emotional support, (4) assistance with daily activities, and (5) creating a comfortable environment. Group differences were analyzed using Fisher's Exact Test.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Parents in both groups prepared their children for day surgery but provided limited details about the procedure, including its duration and postoperative care. Those who used the mobile app were more effective in using nonpharmacological pain-relieving methods to alleviate their children's pain. They more frequently employed cognitive-behavioral techniques, such as distraction and positive reinforcement, and physical techniques, like massage and positioning. However, statistically significant differences were found only in the timing of information given about the procedure and the use of distraction by parents. Both groups used well emotional support, assistance with daily activities, and creating a comfortable environment following the surgery.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The study shows that digital counseling can increase parents' use of nonpharmacological pain-relieving methods in pediatric day surgery. However, it is important that mobile apps promote communication between parents and children rather than replace it.</p><p><strong>Nursing practice implications: </strong>Nurses should ensure digital tools promote interactive communication between parents and children, improving the use of pain relief methods. Training and regular feedback are essential to integrate these tools into nursing practice effectively.</p><p><strong>Clinical trial registration: </strong>This study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03774303).</p>","PeriodicalId":19959,"journal":{"name":"Pain Management Nursing","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6000,"publicationDate":"2025-05-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Pain Management Nursing","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmn.2025.04.011","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"NURSING","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Purpose: This study evaluated the effectiveness of digital counseling for parents in using nonpharmacological pain-relieving methods on pediatric day surgery patients.
Design: A secondary outcome study of the randomized controlled trial.
Methods: The participants included 70 children (aged 2-6 years) and their parents in a Pediatric Day Surgical Department at a university hospital. Parents were randomly assigned to an intervention group (n = 36) using a mobile application to guide nonpharmacological pain management or a control group (n = 34) receiving standard care. Effectiveness was measured by the frequency with which parents prepared their children for day surgery and used various pain-relieving methods, including (1) cognitive-behavioral and (2) physical techniques, (3) emotional support, (4) assistance with daily activities, and (5) creating a comfortable environment. Group differences were analyzed using Fisher's Exact Test.
Results: Parents in both groups prepared their children for day surgery but provided limited details about the procedure, including its duration and postoperative care. Those who used the mobile app were more effective in using nonpharmacological pain-relieving methods to alleviate their children's pain. They more frequently employed cognitive-behavioral techniques, such as distraction and positive reinforcement, and physical techniques, like massage and positioning. However, statistically significant differences were found only in the timing of information given about the procedure and the use of distraction by parents. Both groups used well emotional support, assistance with daily activities, and creating a comfortable environment following the surgery.
Conclusions: The study shows that digital counseling can increase parents' use of nonpharmacological pain-relieving methods in pediatric day surgery. However, it is important that mobile apps promote communication between parents and children rather than replace it.
Nursing practice implications: Nurses should ensure digital tools promote interactive communication between parents and children, improving the use of pain relief methods. Training and regular feedback are essential to integrate these tools into nursing practice effectively.
Clinical trial registration: This study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03774303).
期刊介绍：
This peer-reviewed journal offers a unique focus on the realm of pain management as it applies to nursing. Original and review articles from experts in the field offer key insights in the areas of clinical practice, advocacy, education, administration, and research. Additional features include practice guidelines and pharmacology updates.
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