Effect of Educational Intervention about Valsalva Maneuver versus Hot Compresses on Ear Pain for Children Undergoing Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

Background: In recent years, hyperbaric oxygen therapy has become increasingly popular among children due to its efficacy in the treatment of decompression sickness, carbon monoxide, arterial insufficiency, poisoning, gas gangrene and air or gas embolism. This study aims to evaluate the effect of implementing Valsalva maneuver versus hot compresses on ear pain for children undergoing hyperbaric oxygen therapy.Methods: In the present study, a quasi-experimental research design was used. Setting: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy Unit at Educational International Tanta Hospital. Sample: A purposive sampling of thirty children aged 6-18 years who were undergoing hyperbaric oxygen therapy and were gathered from the aforementioned areas. Those children were divided into two equal groups, each consisting of fifteen children. The first group children was administered Valsalva maneuver while the second group of children was administered hot compresses. Three tools were used in the current study. Tool I: A structured interview sheet consisting of three parts. Tool II: Observational Checklist. Tool III: Pain rating scale for children called the Wong–Baker faces. Results: Regarding mean total scores of children's ear pain severity, at the beginning or during and after receiving hyperbaric oxygen therapy session; there were statistically significant differences among Valsalva maneuver group children and among hot compresses group children. Conclusions: Valsalva maneuver and hot compresses (D-Mid hot packs) were both found to be beneficial in alleviating the severity of children's ear pain and equalizing ear pressure at beginning, during, and after hyperbaric oxygen therapy session