Effectiveness of distraction-based interventions for relieving anxiety, fear and pain in hospitalized children during venous blood sampling: a systematic review protocol

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this review is to evaluate the effectiveness of active compared with passive distraction-based interventions in relieving anxiety, fear, and pain in hospitalized preschool and school-age children during venous blood sampling. Introduction: Venous blood sampling remains the most common procedure that causes anxiety, fear, and pain among the pediatric population. It is important that health care professionals relieve a child’s pain and the related emotions because untreated pain may have long-term effects on children’s growth and development. It is necessary to determine which interventions are effective in relieving these outcomes in preschool and school-age children during blood sampling. Inclusion criteria: This review will include randomized controlled trials and quasi-experimental studies that include active and passive distraction-based interventions for relieving hospitalized preschool and school-age children’s anxiety, fear, and pain during venous blood sampling. Methods: CINAHL, PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane Library databases will be searched for published studies. MedNar, Google Scholar, and PsycEXTRA databases will be searched for in-progress and unpublished studies. Two independent researchers will perform critical appraisal and data extraction using JBI methodology. Data describing randomized controlled trials and quasi-experimental studies will be pooled in a statistical meta-analysis. If statistical analysis is not possible, the findings will be reported narratively. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach will be used to assess certainty in the quality of evidence. Review registration: PROSPERO CRD42023455617