Distraction techniques are commonly used at hospitals to keep patients focused on something besides the procedure they are undergoing. For children, these procedures usually involve drawing blood or inserting an IV.

Two University of Iowa Children's Hospital nurses are studying current distraction techniques to understand them better. They also want to find out which children are better suited for specific techniques, and how parents can be involved.

"I think we all struggle to find a way to help them. The parents are trying to find a way to help the child. The professionals are also trying to do that. So that’s why we went to using things like distraction. It’s something that people can use that will make it just a little bit easier for the child," says Ann Marie McCarthy, Ph.D., R.N., UI associate professor of nursing.

"If the parents can be shown a technique that’s particularly useful, they feel better about themselves. They feel better about the whole experience," says Charmaine Kleiber, Ph.D., UI Health Care A.P.R.N.

Children who do experience poor pain control during medical procedures may have trouble coping with future procedures. The UI researchers hope to eventually develop a screening tool to determine the best course of action for each child and parent.

Kleiber and McCarthy began their research into pain management about 10 years ago. Their most recent research is funded by a $2.1 million grant from the National Institute of Nursing Research.

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