Impact of Buzzy and Finger Puppets on Children's Pain, Fear, and Anxiety During Venipuncture (Pain Relief)

Kutahya Health Sciences University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Children Pain Management; Pain Management; Nonpharmalogical Pain Management

Treatments: Device: The Buzzy Device; Device: Finger Puppet

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06849648

0000000000000000000002024/11-3

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study evaluates the impact of the Buzzy device and finger puppet distraction on pain, fear, and anxiety in children aged 4-7 undergoing venipuncture in a pediatric emergency department. Designed as a parallel, randomized, double-blind clinical trial, participants were divided into three groups: Buzzy Group (BG), Puppet Group (PG), and a Control Group (CG).

The Buzzy Group used the Buzzy device during venipuncture, the Puppet Group received finger puppet distraction, and the Control Group underwent standard venipuncture with no intervention. Pain, fear, and anxiety levels were assessed before and one minute after venipuncture using child-friendly scales, including the Wong-Baker Faces Pain Scale, Children's Fear Scale (CFS), and Children's Anxiety Meter-State (CAM-S).

All procedures were performed by an experienced pediatric nurse trained in Buzzy device usage. Recruitment took place at Mardin Training and Research Hospital from January to June 2025, focusing on children aged 4-7 without chronic illnesses, neurodevelopmental delays, or other exclusion criteria such as prior sedation or cold sensitivity disorders. Parents and children in the intervention groups were educated about the respective techniques in age-appropriate language.

This trial aims to compare the effectiveness of these nonpharmacologic interventions in reducing procedural distress, providing evidence-based solutions for managing pain and anxiety in pediatric emergency settings.

Full description

This study investigates the effectiveness of the Buzzy device and finger puppets-nonpharmacologic methods-in reducing pain, fear, and anxiety in children aged 4-7 undergoing venipuncture in emergency departments, addressing a gap in current research.

This study was designed as a parallel, randomized and double-blind clinical trial on pediatric patients. Patients who needed to undergo a venipuncture procedure by the emergency nurse were randomly assigned to three different groups: Intervention Group 1 (use of Buzzy device, referred to as Buzzy Group [BG]), Intervention Group 2 (distraction with a finger puppet, referred to as Puppet Group [PG]), and the Control Group referred to as [CG].

Patients in Intervention Group 1 received the Buzzy device during venipuncture, while patients in Intervention Group 2 received distraction with finger puppets. Patients in the Control Group did not receive any intervention. Patients in all groups were subjected to the standard venipuncture procedure.

Children's pain, fear and anxiety levels were assessed by using Wong-Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale, Children's Fear Scale (CFS), Children's Anxiety Meter-State (CAM-S) before and 1 minutes after the venipuncture procedure. These assessments were performed independently by the children themselves.

All venipuncture procedures were carried out by the same nurse who are working in the paediatric emergency ward and had at least eight years of experience with the paediatric venipuncture procedure. Additionally, the nurse received training on how to operate the Buzzy device during venipuncture procedure. Venipuncture was performed with the peripheral venous line.

This method aims to compare the effect of different distraction techniques on children's pain and anxiety levels during venipuncture.

The children were recruited from the paediatric emergency departments of Mardin Training and Research Hospital, in the city of Mardin, in the Southeastern Anatolia Region of Turkey, between January 2025 and June 2025.

In this study, we included samples of patients aged 4-7 years of both genders who had been admitted to the paediatric emergency ward. These children required venepuncture procedures for blood tests. The study excluded the children who with chronic disease; who were neuro-developmentally delayed verbal difficulties, hearing or visual impairments; children who had received analgesia or sedation within the previous 24 hours, or had a history of syncope and those were unconscious. Also, children who have bleeding disorder; and infection, rash, damaged skin on the arm where the device will be placed will be excluded from the study. In addition, children with cold sensitivity disease such as Raynaud's disease and Prader-Willi syndrome and children who refuse to wear the Buzzy device were excluded from the study.

The researcher evaluated participants' baseline information in order to analyse eligibility requirements. Parents of participants in the intervention 1. and 2. groups were informed that Buzzy device and finger puppet play, respectively, would be used for their kids during venipuncture, respectively. Additionally, the participants were informed how to use the Buzzy device and finger puppet play during venipuncture with an age-appropriate language. In the control group, parents were informed that only children's pain, fear and anxiety would be measured before and after the venipuncture procedure. To prevent measurement bias, no additional information was provided to the nurses, the participants and their families.

Enrollment: 102 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 4 to 7 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• In this study, we included samples of patients aged 4-7 years of both genders who had been admitted to the paediatric emergency ward.
• These children required venepuncture procedures for blood tests.

Exclusion criteria

• The study excluded the children who with chronic disease; who were neuro-developmentally delayed verbal difficulties, hearing or visual impairments;
• Children who had received analgesia or sedation within the previous 24 hours, or had a history of syncope and those were unconscious.
• Children who have bleeding disorder; and infection, rash, damaged skin on the arm where the device will be placed will be excluded from the study.
• Children with cold sensitivity disease such as raynaud's disease and prader-willi syndrome and children who refuse to wear the buzzy device were excluded from the study.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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102 participants in 3 patient groups

Experimental A

Experimental group

Description:

the Buzzy device, shaped like a bee or ladybug and featuring a reusable battery, was used for pain management. The device combines cold application with vibration, aided by wing-shaped ice packs. We used the ladybug-shaped Buzzy (Buzzy Healthcare mini ladybuzz, code BKHM3). Following the manufacturer's instructions, the device was held 3-5 cm above the venipuncture site for 30 seconds, then moved just before injection while maintaining vibration throughout the procedure. Ice packs were kept in the freezer but were removed a few minutes before the procedure to avoid discomfort from excessive cold. After the procedure, the device was cleaned with alcohol, and the ice pack was placed back in the freezer for reuse. The total intervention lasted 2-5 minutes, with parents present but not allowed to soothe their children during the procedure.

Treatment:

Device: The Buzzy Device

Experimental B

Experimental group

Description:

Finger puppets were used to distract the participants during venepuncture procedure. Children are allowed to pick their favourite animals. These soft in various shaped finger puppets can be placed on adult's fingers. One minute before the venipuncture procedure, the researcher (K.O.) engaged the participants in finger puppet play and initiated conversation by asking; 'Hello, how are you? What is this figure? Do you know where this animal/figure live in? Have you previously seen this animal/figure alive? Have you been in a zoo? Additionally, techniques such as having the animals 'sing' or 'interact' with each other were employed to capture the child's attention on the finger puppets. Children in this group were not given any distraction techniques prior to the procedure. All groups' parents accompanied over their children during the process, but they were not permitted to comfort them.

Treatment:

Device: Finger Puppet

Control Group: No intervention is applied; participants receive the standard venipuncture procedure.

No Intervention group

Description:

Children in this group were invited for venipuncture procedure in accordance with the standard venipuncture procedure applied in the paediatric emergency department and the procedure was performed. Similarly to intervention groups, any distraction did not used, or families were not allowed to comfort their children during procedure. In this scale, faces are given a pain score according to numerical values.