Investigating the Impact of Ice Application on the Venous Puncture Pain in the Pediatric Population

Children often undergo venous punctures in wards and emergency rooms, a procedure that is both painful and distressing for both children and their parents. When pain is not effectively managed, it can lead to fear, anxiety, uncooperative behavior, unsuccessful attempts, prolonged procedure duration, and overall dissatisfaction with the care provided. Various methods, both pharmacological and non-pharmacological, can help reduce pain during venous puncture, but most of these preparations are not feasible in urgent situations due to their time-consuming nature. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a non-pharmacological method (ice application) in reducing venous puncture pain in children. It is hypothesized that there is a significant difference in the pain intensity/score among children in the intervention group (ice application) and the control group (without ice application).

The rationale of this study is to find a cost-effective method for reducing pain during IV puncture, minimizing hospitalization costs for children, and alleviating their fear of pain. A randomized controlled trial (RCT) will be conducted, involving 94 children. Non-probability convenience sampling will be used, and children will be randomly assigned to two groups using the lottery method. One group will receive ice application as an intervention, while the other group will serve as the control group. The effectiveness of this approach will be assessed through a comparative analysis of these two groups. The study will span a duration of 4-5 months, starting after the synopsis receives approval. The target population for the study will be children aged 5 to 7 years. Pain will be assessed using the Wong-Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale. Data will be analyzed using SPSS version 24. Descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage) will be used to describe the characteristics of the study population. The Chi-square test will be used to examine the demographic information of the two groups. Independent t-tests will be used to compare the means of both groups after intervention. The significance level of the tests will be considered at a p-value < 0.05. The anticipated findings of this study lie in its comprehensive analysis of this methodology to determine the most economically feasible non-pharmacological approach. By focusing on resource-limited hospitals in Pakistan, the study aims to swiftly identify a method that can be readily implemented, effectively cutting down hospitalization costs for children while also addressing their pain-related issues. This research not only establishes a crucial benchmark in evidence collection but also paves the way for addressing pain-related challenges linked to venipuncture in pediatric patients, offering substantial benefits in the long run