Affection and distress for venipuncture
Section: Health and quality of life
How to quote
Garzón Benítez R, Pérez Fernández GM, Prados García EI, González Alabarce I. Las acciones afectivas y el distrés del niño ante la venopunción. Metas Enferm oct 2014; 17(8): 27-32.
Authors
1Rafael Garzón Benítez, 1Gracia María Pérez Fernández, 2Elisa Isabel Prados García, 1Isabel González Alabarce
Position
1Enfermero/a. Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Almuñécar (Granada). Área de Gestión Sanitaria Sur de Granada.2Técnico en cuidados auxiliares de Enfermería. Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Almuñécar (Granada). Área de Gestión Sanitaria Sur de Granada.
Contact address
Rafael Garzón Benítez. Centro de Salud de Almuñécar. C/ Chingetti, s/n. 18690 Almuñécar (Granada).
Contact email: rafael.garzon.sspa@juntadeandalucia.es
Abstract
Objective: to determine whether a structured nursing intervention of affective actions will cause a reduction in the distress suffered by children when faced with venipuncture.
Method: before-and-after intervention study, conducted at the health centre in Almuñécar (Granada) with 1 to 5-year-old children who required venipuncture for blood tests. In order to determine distress, the Children’s and Infants’ Postoperative Pain Scale (CHIPPS) was used. The intervention consisted of a set of affective actions: continuous contact with parents / guardians; use of language adequate for their age; showing and explaining the venipuncture materials, and projection of their preferred audiovisual aids.
Results: the sample included 100 subjects, allocated on a 50% by gender and two age categories (1 to 3-year-old and > 3 to 5-year-old). There was a significant change in all variables (p< 0.05) in the overall sample, except for crying (p= 0.057). A significant change was observed in all parameters for boys, except in crying; while in girls, there was a change in facial expression and chest posture, but not in crying, motor restlessness, and leg posture. We found a significant change in all variables in the 1-2-year-old group, while no change in leg posture and crying occurred in the 3 to 5-year-old group.
Conclusions: there is evidence showing that the inclusion of some simple affective techniques will cause a reduction in children’s distress during venipuncture.
Keywords:
Venipuncture; Children; distress; fear; psychological intervention
Versión en Español
Título:
Las acciones afectivas y el distrés del niño ante la venopunción