Pain and fear during peripheral vascular access in children
Abstract:
Aim: The study was conducted to determine the effect of stress ball-squeezing and balloon inflation methods applied during vascular access in paediatric patients on pain, fear and physical parameters.
Methods: The study is a randomised controlled experimental trial. As a result of the power analysis, the sample of the study consisted of a total of 108 children (stress ball-squeezing = 36, balloon inflation = 36, control group = 36) between the ages of 6 and 10 who were hospitalised in a university hospital or needed intravenous fluids on admission to the emergency room.
Results: When the results of the research were evaluated, it was found that the pain and fear levels of the children in the stress ball-squeezing and balloon inflation groups were significantly lower during the procedure compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Pain and fear levels of the stress ball-squeezing group were significantly lower than those of the balloon inflation group (p < 0.05). It was determined that the physiological measurement values of the children in the experimental groups were positively affected (p < 0.05) and the most effective result was detected in the stress ball-squeezing group (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: It was observed that stress ball-squeezing and balloon inflation methods applied during peripheral vascular access alleviated the pain and fear of children and positively affected their vital signs. In line with these results, balloon inflation and stress ball can be used as distraction methods in order to reduce the pain and fear of children with peripheral vascular access and to regulate their physiological parameters.
Reference:
Sakalli R, Şener DK. The Effect of Stress Ball-Squeezing and Balloon Inflation Methods on Pain, Fear and Physical Parameters During Peripheral Vascular Access in Children: A Randomised Controlled Trial. Int J Nurs Pract. 2026 Feb;32(1):e70094. doi: 10.1111/ijn.70094. PMID: 41449621.