Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of animal-assisted intervention
as distraction for reducing children's pain and distress before, during, and after
standard blood collection procedure. Fifty children (ages 4-11 years) undergoing venipuncture
were randomly assigned to the experimental group (EG; n = 25) or to the control group
(CG; n = 25). The blood collection procedure was carried on the children in the EG
arm in the presence of a dog, whereas no dog was present when venipuncture was conducted
on children in CG. In both cases, parents accompanied the child in the procedure room.
Distress experienced by the child was measured with the Amended Observation Scale
of Behavioral Distress, while perceived pain was measured with a visual analog scale
or the Wong Baker Scale (Faces Scale); levels of cortisol in blood also were analyzed.
Parental anxiety during the procedure was measured with State Trait Anxiety Inventory.
Children assigned to the EG group reacted with less distress than children in the
CG arm. Furthermore, cortisol levels were lower in the EG group compared with the
CG group. There were no significant differences in pain ratings and in the level of
parental anxiety. It appears that the presence of dogs during blood draw procedures
reduces distress in children.
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: November 03, 2014
Accepted:
April 15,
2014
Received in revised form:
January 15,
2014
Received:
December 2,
2012
Footnotes
All authors were involved in the drafting and revising of the manuscript and have read and approved the final version. The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.
Identification
Copyright
© 2015 American Society for Pain Management Nursing. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
