AMELIORATING ADULTS ACUTE PAIN DURING PHLEBOTOMY WITH A DISTRACTION INTERVENTION

This study evaluated the effectiveness of a distraction intervention o n subjects' perceptions of pain. During phlebotomy, 96 adults received either usual care or used a kaleidoscope as a distraction. After phle botomy they rated their level of experienced pain with each of three i nstruments: Wong-Baker FACES Pain Scale, pain visual analogue scale, a nd Present Pain Intensity Scale. Statistical analyses revealed signifi cantly lower perceptions of experienced pain among subjects using the kaleidoscope and concurrent validity for using the FACES Pain Scale wi th adults. Because the distraction intervention is effective, inexpens ive, and easy to implement, its routine use during phlebotomy is recom mended. Copyright (C) 1997 by WB. Saunders Company.