Effect of external cold and thermomechanical stimulation on anxiety and pain during intravenous cannulation among children.

Pain and anxiety are the most common and prevalent adverse stimuli experienced by hospitalised children. The most frightening and distressing source of pain and anxiety accounted for is due to venipuncture. This study aimed to assess the effect of cold and thermomechanical stimulation on pain and anxiety during intravenous (IV) cannulation among children. We conducted a prospective parallel-group randomised control trial in children who required IV cannulation. In the intervention group, external cold and thermomechanical stimulation was applied before 60 seconds, above 5 cm over IV cannulation site through Buzzy device, while the control group received routine care. Children's level of anxiety and pain was assessed using the Children's Fear Scale (CFS) and Wong-Baker Faces pain Scale (WBFS). Mean scores of the self-reported procedural level of pain were less in the intervention group as compared to the control group (2.80 ± 1.86, 7.47 ± 2.40). Median of procedural pain level showed a significant difference between the intervention and control group at p < 0.001, inferring that the Buzzy device strongly resulted in a reduction of perception of pain during the cannulation procedure. However, no significant difference was observed in the median of the procedural level of anxiety between the two groups (p = 0.208), stating that cold and thermomechanical stimulation did not affect the level of anxiety of children. Nevertheless, the combination of cold and thermomechanical stimulation through the Buzzy device did not have a significant impact on the procedural level of anxiety among children. Still, it could optimally alleviate the level of pain.