CAPN Tallahassee Member 's Research Accepted by the International Journal of Nursing Studies

Jessica Bahorski, MSN, ARNP has shared with us about her study which will be published in the International Journal of Nursing Studies. The research study entitled: Mitigating procedural pain during venipuncture in a pediatric population: A randomized factorial study has been completed. The study was a collaborative effort between the Tallahassee Memorial Hospital Children's Center and the FSU College of Nursing. Data was analyzed on a 173 participants between the ages of 18 months and 17 years of age. Participants were randomized to one of three groups for intervention used during a venipuncture procedure. Group 1 received LMX4® cream only, Group 2 received Buzzy® only, and Group 3 received both LMX4® and Buzzy®.

Research questions and results were as follows:

1. Is there a difference in the perceived pain associated with a venipuncture procedure in a group of pediatric patients based on the preparatory intervention used during the procedure?
   • No statistically significant difference based on intervention used among the 3 groups per parental rating of pain (p = 0.164) or the child's self-rating of pain (p = 0.235).
   
   
2. Is the effectiveness of the preparatory intervention used to reduce perceived pain during a venipuncture procedure influenced by age, sex, or ethnic group?
   • No statistically significant differences based on the age or sex of the child.
   • Statistically significant interaction of ethnic group with treatment group was demonstrated in both the parental rating of pain (p=.006) and the child's self-rating of pain (p=.04) scores and only in Group 3.

Mechanical vibration (Buzzy®) appears to be as effective as a topical anesthetic (LMX4®) in children regardless of age group or sex. Further exploration of ethnic influences regarding procedural pain and approaches to pain mitigation in children is of utmost importance.

The research study has been accepted for publication in the International Journal of Nursing Studies. It was presented as a podium presentation at the Southern Nurses Research Society Annual Conference in February 2015 and a poster presentation at the Society of Pediatric Nurses Annual Conference in April 2015. It will be presented again as a podium presentation in July 2015 at the Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Research Congress. Research team members include: Jessica Bahorski, MSN, ARNP, PPCNP-BC, Roxanne Hauber, PhD, RN, CNE, Donna Ranner, RN, CPN, Catherine Hanks, RN, CPN, Betsy Stoutamire, RN, CPN, Nique Johnson, BSN, RN, CPN, Kendal Mundy, BS, CCLS, and Glenna Gordon. Please contact the principal investigator, Jessica Bahorski, for questions at: jessica.bahorski@med.fsu.edu.