Soap bubbles as a distraction technique in the management of pain, anxiety, and fear in children at the paediatric emergency room: A pilot study

Abstract

Background: Hospitals can cause anxiety, pain, and fear in children perceiving medical procedures as intrusive and painful. Among the nonpharmacological strategies, distraction techniques have proved to be effective in the management of pain and distress.

Methods: The aim of the present study is to assess the effectiveness of soap bubbles as a distraction technique for the management of anxiety, fear, and pain in children waiting for a medical examination at the paediatric emergency room. We employed a parallel trial design with a sample consisting of 74 children (M = 9.30; SD = 1.10; 50% female) randomly assigned to either a control or experimental group. The children in the experimental group underwent the soap bubble protocol while waiting for a medical examination at the paediatric emergency room. Anxiety, fear, and pain were assessed by self-report administered to the children before the triage and the application of the soap bubbles (baseline), after the application of the soap bubbles (T1), and after the medical examination (T2).

Results: The children in the experimental group showed a significant reduction of perceived pain while waiting for the medical examination (T1), whereas no difference was found after the medical examination (T2). Furthermore, the children in the experimental group showed a significant reduction in fear (T1 and T2), whereas no difference was found in the anxiety scores measured by the Child Anxiety.

Conclusion: The use of soap bubbles is a good distraction technique in the reduction of fear and the perception of pain in children awaiting a medical examination at the paediatric emergency room.

Keywords: anxiety; fear; paediatric emergency department; pain; soap bubbles.