Comparing the Effects of Distraction Techniques and Routine Care on Intensity of Fear of IV Insertion in Children with Strabismus

Fear from injection is the worst threat for children. Procedures such as inserting intravenous catheter cause anxiety and fear for families and their children. Prevention from the complications is a duty for nurses. This study has done to assesses the effects of distractions techniques and routine care on intensity of fear while catheter insertion in children. This study was an experimental study in that, 72 hospitalized children in a Hospital who underwent catheter placement procedures was chosen. Subjects were selected during fourteen months and divided into three groups randomly. For two groups of children, distraction methods (bubble blower and touch therapy) were used and the third was the control group. The data were collected by CMFS scale and analyzed by SPSS v.14. The findings showed that from 72 children, who participated in this study, 54% (37 people) were male and 66/6% were between 5 and 8 years old. Mean score of fear in each group was 10.1±0.8 in Bubble group, 9.9±0.5 in touch therapy and 15.1±0.2 in control group. There was not a statistically significant difference between two distraction groups (p=0.08). But statistically significant difference was found between experimental and control groups (p=0.04). Distraction technique is effective in reducing fear, compared with routine care when performing invasive procedures on children; it should be considered by nurses.