Effect of Vein Finder and Common Venipuncture Method in Anxiety and Psychological Indicators among 3-6-year-old children: A Comparative Study

Venipuncture is one of the most common and anxious experiences in children related to hospitalization and disease. The facilitation of venipuncture saves time and costs, reduces the risk of infection, and maintains patient safety. This study aimed to compare the effect of two methods of using a venipuncture device and the common method of venipuncture on anxiety and physiological indicators of children.

This clinical trial study was conducted on 62 eligible children aged 3-6 years. The venous access was performed by a vein finder and the conventional method in the intervention and control groups, respectively. Anxiety responses, heart rate, respiration rate, blood pressure, and blood oxygen saturation in both groups were measured 5 min before and after venipuncture. The Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale was used to this end. Data were analyzed in SPSS software (version 23) using independent t-test, paired t-test, and analysis of covariance.

Physiological indices of heart rate (P<0.001) and respiratory rate (P=0.002) showed a significant difference after the intervention (P<0.001). However, the blood oxygen saturation (P=0.13), systolic blood pressure (P=0.31), and diastolic blood pressure (P=0.76) were not significant. The mean anxiety scores were reported as 13.77±1.94 and 18±2.44 in the intervention control groups, respectively, after the intervention (P=0.001). Based on the findings, the anxiety score showed a significant decrease in the intervention group after the venipuncture, compared to the control group (P<0.001).

Since the vein finder device had positive effects in reducing anxiety and maintaining physiologic indices balance in 3-6-year-old children, it can be applied as a proper method for intravenous catheterization in pediatric medical wards.