The effect of distraction methods on pain and anxiety during intramuscular injection in children

This thesis study was conducted as a randomized controlled experimental study to analyze the effects of different methods of diverting attention during intramuscular injection on pain and anxiety in children. Data were collected in the Pediatric Emergency Injection Unit of Mersin City Training and Research Hospital between October and December 2021. The 180 children aged 6-12 years included in the study were divided into four groups by simple randomization method. In the study, the experimental group received video game play (n=45), kaleidoscope (n=45) and virtual reality goggles (n=45) as distraction methods. The control group (n=45) received intramuscular injection (IM) without any application. In the study, the Wong-Baker Faces Pain Scale (WBFPRS) was used to measure pain level and the Child Fear Scale (CFS) was used to measure anxiety level. The research data were collected by the researcher through face-to-face interviews with the children. Descriptive characteristics of the children in the experimental and control groups were found to be similar (p>0.05). It was found that the use of video game, kaleidoscope and virtual reality goggles were effective in reducing pain and anxiety related to intramuscular injection in children aged 6-12 years. The use of video game play, kaleidoscope, virtual reality goggles were found to be effective in reducing pain and anxiety related to intramuscular injection in children aged 6-12 years in the injection units of pediatric emergency departments.