Effect of Hand Puppet and Squeeze Toys on IV Placement in Pediatric Oncology Patients

Akdeniz University

Status: Not yet enrolling

Conditions: Pediatric Hematology; Pediatric Oncology

Treatments: Other: Performing a Hand Puppet to Music; Other: Hand Squeezing Soft Toy (Squishy)

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07493018

AkdenizUnOncology

Details and patient eligibility

About

This randomized controlled trial investigates hand puppet and squeeze toy techniques to reduce fear, emotional distress, and procedure time, and improve IV catheter placement success in 90 pediatric hematology-oncology patients (ages 6-10). Participants will be randomized into three groups: hand puppet, squeeze toy, or control. Outcomes include fear, emotional expression, procedure duration, number of attempts, and first-attempt success.

Enrollment: 90 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 6 to 10 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Children aged 6-10 years with a pediatric hematology or oncology diagnosis.

Cognitively able to understand instructions during the procedure.

Require peripheral IV catheter placement as determined by the healthcare team.

Difficult Intravenous Access (DIVA) Score ≥4.

Child and parent/guardian willing to participate.

Exclusion criteria

Physical condition preventing use of a squeeze toy.

Cognitive or developmental disorders preventing understanding of procedural instructions.

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Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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90 participants in 3 patient groups

Hand Puppet

Experimental group

Description:

In this arm, an independent researcher will use a hand puppet with child-friendly animal or profession-themed designs, moving it to music during IV catheter placement to engage the child's attention. The child selects the puppet and interacts with it while another researcher collects data. This distraction aims to reduce fear, negative emotional responses, number of IV attempts, and procedure duration.

Treatment:

Other: Performing a Hand Puppet to Music

Squeeze Toy

Experimental group

Description:

Children will receive a soft, colorful squeeze toy in their non-procedure hand during IV catheter placement. They will be encouraged to rhythmically squeeze and release the toy, which engages their attention. This distraction aims to reduce fear, negative emotional responses, number of IV attempts, and procedure duration.

Treatment:

Other: Hand Squeezing Soft Toy (Squishy)

Control

No Intervention group

Description:

Children in the control group will receive standard peripheral IV catheter placement without any distraction techniques.