The Relationship between the Nursres Performance and the Intensity of Pain of School-aged Children in the Procedure of Venipuncture in Be'sat Medical Education Center, Hamadan

Background and Objectives: Venipuncture is one of the most uncomfortable and painful hospitalization experiences for children. The performance of nurses during the procedure of venipuncture can reduce the pain caused by the injection. Therefore, the present study was conducted with the aim of determining the relationship between the performance of the nurse in the procedure of venipuncture and the pain intensity of school-aged children. Materials and Methods: The present study was conducted cross-sectionally in the Be’sat Educational and Medical Center in Hamadan City in 2023. Nurses working in children's internal departments were selected by census (28 people), and 145 children meeting the entry criteria were chosen using a convenience sampling method. Information was collected by three questionnaires, namely a demographic characteristics form, the Nurse Performance Questionnaire, and the Faces Pain Scale. Data analysis was done using SPSS-20 software and appropriate statistical tests. Results: The mean performance of nurses in the procedure of venipuncture in children was at a good level (75.42±14.86). The mean pain score of the children in the venipuncture procedure was 5.16±1.9. The performance of nurses differed with age, work experience, interest in nursing, and shift work, and children's pain score in the venipuncture procedure varied based on the child’s gender and age and accompanying parent (P>0.05). An inverse correlation was observed between nurses' performance and children's pain scores (P<0.001). Conclusion: The performance of nurses in the venipuncture procedure for children was satisfactory, and an increase in performance led to a decrease in the pain intensity. Therefore, there is a need for relevant authorities to pay more attention to nurses in pediatric departments in order to plan to enhance their performance in the venipuncture procedure and to consider the individual characteristics affecting the pain level of children.