A Scoping Review of Audiovisual Distraction Techniques Among Children in Reducing Invasive Procedure Pain

Abstract

Background: Invasive procedures in children can lead to painful and uncooperative procedures. It is essential to determine the appropriate method to create a comfortable environment for children during invasive procedures. However, audiovisuals are one of the distraction techniques used in pain management.
Purpose: This study aims to identify and categorize related audiovisual distraction techniques in reducing pain due to invasive procedures among children.
Methods: This study uses a systematic scoping review. A literature review was conducted using PubMed, EBSCO, Science Direct, Scopus and grey literature through Google Scholar. The study was eligible for inclusion if it included articles published from 2012 to 2022, full-text and open accessed articles, and in Indonesian and English language. Studies were excluded if they were review studies and the adult population. The keywords in English were ”Children” OR ‘Child’ OR ”Kids” OR ‘Youth’ OR ‘Adolescents’ OR ‘Teenager’ OR ‘Teens’ OR ‘Young People’ OR ‘Pediatric’ OR ‘Paediatric’ OR ‘Childhood’ AND ”Audiovisual” OR ‘Movie’ OR ‘Video’ OR ‘Animation’ AND ”Pain” AND ”Invasive procedures” and keyword in Indonesia were ”Anak” OR ‘Remaja’ OR ‘Bayi’ OR ‘Balita’ AND ”Audiovisual” OR ‘Film’ OR ”Video” OR ‘Animasi’ OR “Nyeri” AND ‘Prosedur invasif’.
Results: We found 15 articles showing audiovisual distraction techniques in managing pain among children undergoing invasive procedures. Three types of audiovisual interventions were used, including virtual reality (VR), video music, and animated cartoons. In addition, types of invasive procedures that benefited from the analyzed interventions were infusion, surgery, injection, blood draw, dressing change, circumcision, endoscopy, and phlebotomy.
Conclusion: Our findings highlight that virtual reality, video music, and animated cartoons have clinical implications in helping to distract from pain in children undergoing invasive procedures. Our study indicates that the potential of audiovisual intervention can be used as an intervention strategy in the pediatric nursing area.