The Effect of Video Game Play Technique on Pain of Venipuncture in Children

Background The present study was designed and conducted to determine the effect of video game play on pain of venipuncture in 3-6 year-old children. Materials and Methods This randomized controlled trial study was conducted on 80 hospitalized children with pain of venipuncture procedures. Playing a video computer game for children during the venipuncture procedures was the intervention for the interventional group. Also the intensity of pain was measured by behavioral pain scale for children (FLACC scale) during the procedure. This scale was completed for patients without any intervention in the control group during venipuncture procedures. Results Pain intensity mean in the interventional group (2.65 ± 1.577) had significant changes in comparison with the control group (7.95 ± 1.084) (P<0.05). 70% of children in the control group experienced severe pain due to venipuncture procedures, but most children in the intervention group (77.5%) had a little pain. Conclusion According to the results, it seems that video game play intervention has a significant positive effect on the pain of venipuncture procedures in children. Further studies are recommended for the development of this technique in health care centers.