The Effect of Parental Presence on Children's Pain and Parental Anxiety During Peripheral Intravenous Catheterization: Randomized Clinical Trial

Objective: The study aimed to determine the effect of parental presence on children's pain and parental anxiety levels during peripheral intravenous catheterization (PIVC). Material and Methods: The sample of this prospective randomized clinical trial consisted of a total of 120 children between the ages of 1 and 24 months who were being treated in the pediatric service and their parents (parental involvement group=46, parental presence group=42, and parental absence group=32). Data collection form, the Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability Pain Scale for children, and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for parents were used to collect data. Results: The descriptive characteristics of the children and their parents were similar among the groups (p>0.05). The pain scores of the children before the PIVC were similar among the groups (p>0.05). The pain scores of the children whose parents were involved in the procedure were lower than those of the children with parental presence (p=0.044) and parental absence (p=0.001). No significant difference was found among the groups during PIVC in terms of the parental anxiety levels (p>0.05). Conclusion: Keeping parents with their infants during PIVC and involving them in the procedure are effective in the pain management of infants aged 1-24 months.