Comparative efficacy of ball squeezing and cartoon watching in pain management in children during IM injection

A recent study compared the effectiveness of ball squeezing and watching cartoons in managing pain during intramuscular (IM) injections in children. 

This randomized controlled trial included children aged 6-12 years who visited the emergency department for IM injections. A power analysis was performed using the G*Power program; overall, 147 protocols were completed with children in the 6-12 age group, with 49 children in each group.

The results revealed that the Facial Pain Scale-Revised (FPS-R) scores during the procedure were the lowest in the group using the stress ball, and this difference was statistically significant. Similarly, the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores during the procedure were the lowest in the stress ball group, and the differences between the groups were statistically significant. 

Therefore, both ball squeezing and watching cartoons were effective in reducing pain during IM injections; the group using the stress ball reported the lowest levels of pain. Among non-pharmacological methods, utilizing a stress ball for squeezing can be considered a practical and effective approach, particularly for pediatric nurses, to alleviate pain during IM injections in children.

Source: Bülbül F. , Özdemir S. The comparative effects of ball squeezing and cartoon watching in pain management in children during intramuscular injection: A randomized control trial. Mehmet Akif Ersoy Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Enstitüsü Dergisi. 2022; 10(3): 134-145.