Introducing a protocol for procedural pain.

Children endure painful experiences while in hospital, often without understanding why. This study aimed to assess whether the use of a protocol for assessing, preparing and distracting children during procedures such as cannulation would decrease levels of pain and distress reported by children, parents and nurses. Pain thermometers and 'scary faces' were used as tools to assess pain and anxiety levels of 82 children. The results were ambiguous and inconsistent. However, nurses have a responsibility to reduce children's pain and anxiety as much as possible and distraction is one way of doing this.