The Effect of Novel Distraction Technique on Pain Management during Local Anesthesia Administration in Pediatric Patients

Abstract

Introduction: Distraction techniques serve to focus the child’s attention away from the anxiety provoking procedure and include deep breathing and relaxing; engaging the child in conversation, audio analgesia and the likes

Objectives: To assess the effect of an active and novel distraction technique DCITAUL (Drawing Circle In The Air Using leg) on the pain behaviour observed and reported by children receiving local anesthesia injections prior to dental treatment

Methods: The patients were explained about the study, an informed consent was taken in the language they understood. Thirty children in the age group 4 to 10 years who required local anesthesia administration for dental treatment pulp therapy, extractions were included in this study. During the administration of Local anesthesia , the children in the control group were made to relax. The children in the control group were made to relax by means of deep breathing Children in intervention group were taught to use the novel distraction technique (Drawing circle in the air using leg).

Results: There was a statistically significant difference between the study group and control group (p =0.001).

Conclusions: The novel distraction technique appears to be a simple and effective method of distraction and can be routinely used during administration of local anesthesia in pediatric patients