The Effect of Distraction With Watching Cartoons on the Level of Pain at Preparation Before Suturing Children in the Emergency Ward

Abstract

Background: Distraction is a technique that has had positive effects on reducing children’s pain in painful interventions, such as venipuncture, and replacing the burn dressing. Based on the available data, very few articles exist about the application of this technique when suturing children. Objectives: This study was designed to determine the effect of distraction by watching cartoons on the level of pain during preparation before suturing children in the emergency ward. Methods: This study is a randomized controlled trial. The research population included all children aged 3-12 years who were referred to the emergency ward of Bu Ali Sina Hospital in Sari City, Iran. Forty-three subjects were selected from each group. In the intervention group, playing cartoons on the tablet was initiated from the time of placing the child on the bed for suturing, and continued until the end of the anesthetic injection, and this time was recorded. In the control group, the suturing was performed conventionally. The behavioral reactions of both groups were measured twice based on the pain behavioral reactions scale. The first time was when the child was placed on the bed and before cleaning for the anesthetic agent, while the second time was observed and recorded by the researcher immediately after injecting the anesthetic agent. Results: The comparison of mean pain before injecting the anesthetic agent (after playing the cartoon) showed a significant difference between the intervention and control groups based on Mann-Whitney test (P=0.0001). The comparison of mean pain immediately after termination of anesthetic injection also showed a significant difference in both the intervention and control groups based on the Mann-Whitney test (P=0.0001). Based on the results of the present research, the pain in the intervention group was less before the anesthetic injection and less in the control group immediately after the injection. Conclusions: The results suggested that distraction from watching cartoons has a positive effect on reducing the pain of preparation before suturing children. Therefore, this technique can be used in emergency departments.