The effect of getting children between 3-6 to watch small aquarium fish on physiological parameters, pain and anxiety during blood collecti̇on

Purpose: To determine the effect of watching small aquarium fish during the blood collection process on the pain, anxiety, heart rate, oxygen saturation values, crying and procedure duration in 3-6 year old children who applied to the blood collection unit. Materials and Methods: The research was carried out in an experimental design type in the Pediatric Blood Collection Unit of a Training and Research Hospital in Istanbul between September 2021 and 2022. The sample consisted of 70 children (Animal-assisted treatment group: 35, Control group = 35) who applied to the pediatric blood collection unit, met the sample criteria and had an age range. The experimental group was shown watching aquarium fish during the blood collection process. Pain scores of both groups before, during and after the procedure were measured by Wong Baker's and Face, Leg Mobility, Activity, Crying, Consolability Scale (FLACC), oxygen saturations (SpO2), heart rate (HR), crying by pulse oximeter device. and processing times, and their anxiety were evaluated with the Children's Emotional Expression Assessment Scale (CDDVDS). Findings: Groups; They were similar in terms of gender, age, previous injection experience, fear of needles, parents' education level and social security (p > 0.05). Experimental and Control groups were similar in terms of pre-procedure FLACC pain score, Wong Baker pain score, SpO2 and HR values, CDDVRS scores and crying times (p > 0.05). When compared in terms of values during and after the procedure, a statistically significant difference was found in favor of the children in the experimental group (p = 0.001). Conclusion: The groups were similar except for HR (p > 0.05), and a statistically significant difference was found in favor of the children in the HDT group in terms of FLACC and Wong Baker pain scores during and after the procedure, HR and SpO2 values, CDDVDS scores, crying and procedure times (p = 0.001). March 2024, 96 pages. Clinical Trial Number was obtained for the study (NCT05252494). Keywords: Bloodletting, aquarium fish, animal-assisted therapy, pain, anxiety, pediatric nursing