EFFECT OF BALLS ON PAIN AND ANXIETY DURING VENIPUNCTURE IN CHILDREN

THE EFFECT OF TWO DIFFERENT BALLS USED DURING VENIPUNCTURE IN CHILDREN ON PAIN AND ANXIETY LEVELS: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED STUDY

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether using two different types of balls can reduce pain and anxiety during venipuncture in school-aged children (7-12 years) in a pediatric emergency setting. The main questions it aims to answer are:

Does squeezing a soft ball or a textured (ridged) ball during venipuncture reduce perceived pain compared to a control group? Does squeezing a soft ball or a textured (ridged) ball during venipuncture reduce situational anxiety compared to a control group?

Researchers will compare the soft ball, textured ball, and control groups to see if the type of ball affects children's pain and anxiety levels.

Participants will:

Complete a demographic and clinical information form. Use Wong-Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale (WBS) and Child Anxiety Scale-State (ÇAS-D) to report pain and anxiety before, during, and after venipuncture.

Squeeze either a soft or textured ball during venipuncture (for experimental groups) while control group children receive standard care without distraction.

Inclusion Criteria:

Children aged 7-12 years. At least one prior experience of blood draw within the past year. Able to communicate in Turkish. Written informed consent obtained from both child and parents. No physical, auditory, intellectual, or neurological disabilities. No dermatological conditions affecting hand integrity. No analgesic, antipyretic, or anti-inflammatory drug use within the last 12 hours.

No acute pain reported before the procedure. No chronic illness causing regular invasive procedures or chronic pain.

Exclusion Criteria:

Inability to complete the first blood draw. Holding another object during the procedure. Withdrawal from the study at any point. Not meeting any of the inclusion criteria listed above.