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Meta-Analysis
. 2025 Feb;31(1):e13322.
doi: 10.1111/ijn.13322.

Technology-Based Interventions for Pain in Children Undergoing Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Mustafa Volkan Düzgün  1 , Cafer Özdemir  2 , Ayşegül İşler  1 , Ebru Karazeybek  2
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Technology-Based Interventions for Pain in Children Undergoing Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Mustafa Volkan Düzgün et al. Int J Nurs Pract. 2025 Feb.

Abstract

Aim: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effect of technology-based interventions on the pain of paediatric surgery patients.

Background: Recently, the number of technology-based interventions involving multimodal nonpharmacological methods tailored to pain management in paediatric surgery patients has increased. It is crucial to determine the effectiveness of these interventions.

Design: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials following Cochrane methods was conducted.

Review methods: We performed a literature search in the Web of Science, PubMed, CINAHL, Science Direct, MEDLINE, ProQuest and Cochrane Library databases. Two independent researchers screened the literature using specific keywords and selected randomized controlled trials based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Each researcher extracted data and assessed the risk of bias in the randomized controlled trials using the Cochrane bias risk assessment tool.

Result: We conducted a meta-analysis on 14 randomized controlled trials included in the study. The results showed that technology-based interventions reduced pain scores in paediatric surgery patients. Cochran's Q test results pointed to a high level of heterogeneity among the randomized controlled trials.

Conclusion: A meta-analysis result of 14 randomized controlled trials showed that technology-based interventions are effective methods for reducing pain in paediatric surgery patients.

Registration number: CRD42021226666.

Keywords: nursing; paediatric surgery; pain; systematic review and meta‐analyses; technology.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
PRISMA 2020 flow diagram. Source: Page et al. (2021). For more information, visit http://www.prisma‐statement.org/.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
(a) Risk of bias summary. (b) Risk of bias graph.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Meta‐analysis results of the effect of technology‐based interventions on pain scores. Heterogeneity: Q = 52.133, df = 13 (p < 0.001), I 2 = 75.06%; test for overall effect: Z = 4.117 (p < 0.001).
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
Effect of technology‐based interventions on pain scores: funnel plot.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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