Impact of parent-provided distraction on child responses to an IV insertion

Ann Marie McCarthy, University of Iowa
Charmaine Kleiber, University of Iowa
K. Hanrahan
M. B. Zimmerman
N. Westhus
S. Allen

Abstract

This study evaluates the impact of parent-provided distraction on children's responses (behavioral, physiological, parent, and self-report) during an IV insertion. Participants were 542 children, 4 to 10 years old, randomized to an experimental group that received a parent distraction coaching intervention or to routine care. Experimental group children had significantly less cortisol responsivity (p = .026). Children that received the highest level of distraction coaching had the lowest distress on behavioral, parent report, and cortisol measures. When parents provide a higher frequency and quality of distraction, children have lower distress responses on most measures.