Effects of Pop-it Game and Stress Ball Use on Pain and Anxiety During Blood Collection in Children Aged 3-6 Years

Blood collection can cause pain and anxiety in children. This randomized controlled study investigated whether using a pop-it game or a stress ball during blood collection could reduce pain and anxiety in children aged 3-6 years. The study included 78 children who were assigned to a pop-it game group, a stress ball group, or a control group. Pain and anxiety levels were assessed during the blood collection procedure.

Inclusion Criteria: * Children aged 3 to 6 years. * Accompanied by a parent. * Absence of any auditory, mental, or neurological disability * Being communicative and open to interaction. * Not having received any analgesic, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, sedative, or anxiolytic medication within the previous 6 hours. * Absence of acute pain prior to the procedure. * Phlebotomy performed by the same nurse. * No history of regular invasive procedures (i.e., no chronic disease requiring routine blood monitoring, such as cancer or diabetes). * Willingness of both the child and parent to participate in the study. Exclusion Criteria: * inability to perform the phlebotomy procedure on the first attempt.