The effect of stress ball application on fear during blood specimen collection in children

This study was conducted to determine the effect of stress ball on fear during blood specimen collection in children aged 5-10 years. The study was a one-group pretest-posttest quasi-experimental design. The study was conducted between December 08, 2022 and September 14, 2023 in Ankara City Hospital, in the pediatric surgical intensive care unit. The sample of the study was calculated as 54 at 95% power, 0.5% effect size, 95% confidence level in computerized environment. During the blood collection process, a pediatric balloon made of latex and a stress ball made by the researcher using kinetic sand materials with malleable properties were used. Data were collected using a descriptive characteristics form and the Child Fear Scale (CFS). The scale was administered before and after blood sampling. The data were analyzed using descriptive measures such as number, percentage, mean, standard deviation, median and Wilcoxon sign test in computer environment. Statistical significance level was accepted as p<0.05. In the study, the mean score of the children before the intervention was 2.72±0.96 and the mean score after the intervention was 1.19±0.87 and it was determined that there was a statistically significant difference between the scores before and after the intervention (W=-6.140, p<0.05). Accordingly, it can be said that stress ball application was effective in reducing the level of fear in children during blood sampling. In line with these results, it is recommended to plan experimental studies showing the effect of stress ball on the level of fear in other painful interventions and to plan studies in which application protocols are developed to make stress ball application a standard practice in pediatric clinics.