ShotBloker and Helfer Skin Tap Technique During Intramuscular Injection in Children

Pain is an experience of complex perceptions that overwhelms the patient, distorts their behavior and thoughts, prompts them to perform activities that require immediate attention and aim to stop the pain, and causes behavioral reactions and automatic changes.

To examine the effect of the Helfer skin tap technique and ShotBloker application on pain and fear experienced during intramuscular injection in children aged 6-12 in the pediatric emergency unit.

Type of Study: It was planned as a randomized controlled experimental study to determine the effect of Helfer skin tap technique and Shot Blocker application on pain and fear experienced during intramuscular injection in children aged 6-12 years who applied to the pediatric emergency clinic.

Research Population and Sample Selection The population of the study will be children aged 6-12 years who applied to the Tarsus State Hospital, Pediatric Emergency Clinic, and the sample will be 177 children who will undergo intramuscular intervention, meeting the criteria for inclusion in the research. According to the results of the G-power analysis for the sample size, in accordance with the literature of Canbulat and Bal (2015), Canbulat et al (2014) and Mutlu (2012) to find a medium power effect size difference of 0.25 between the groups, type I error 0.05, power of the test. While 0.80 (α= 0.05, β= 0.20), the minimal sample size was 177 (n=59 for each group).

Data collection Stages of Research Stage 1: A pilot study will be conducted with 20 children in order to evaluate the appropriateness of the forms and scales used before the research.

Stage 2: The purpose of the research and how to record the data will be explained to the nurse who will administer the intramuscular injection procedure using the ventrogluoteal region and to the nurse who will observe the child's pain and fear during the procedure. The children in the sample group and their parents will be informed about the path followed in practice and the research, and their verbal and written consent will be obtained.

Stage 3: The patients who meet the sample selection criteria will be randomly and equally distributed into 3 groups through a program in the computer environment, and randomization will be provided.

(http://www1.assumption.edu/users/avadum/applets/RandAssign/GroupGen.html) (1st experimental group Helfer skin tap technique suitable group, 2nd experimental group Shot Blocker group, 3rd group control group) Children in each group will be provided with their parents.

Stage 4: The nurse observing the children in all groups before the procedure will fill in the demographic data form, measure the child's pulse, blood pressure and SpO2 values, and apply the pain and fear assessment scale. In addition, the pain and fear scale will be evaluated by the child and the parent.

Stage 5: Intramuscular injection will be given to the ventrogluoteal region by following the procedure steps for the children in all groups. The intramuscular injection procedure will be performed by the same nurse. During the procedure, the child's pain and fear will be observed by the observing nurse and recorded in the observation form.

At this stage;

• First Experimental group; During the intramuscular injection to be applied to the ventrogluoteal region, the level of pain and fear will be examined using the Helfer skin tap technique.
• Second Experiment group; During the intramuscular injection to be applied to the ventrogluoteal region, the level of pain and fear will be examined by using Shot Blocker.
• To the control group; The level of pain and fear will be examined during intramuscular injection into the ventrogluotealregion without any intervention.

Stage 6: 5 minutes after the procedure, the pain and fear level of the children in all groups will be re-evaluated by the child, the mother and the observing nurse. After the procedure, pulse, blood pressure and SpO2 values will be measured and recorded by the observing nurse.

Stage 7: The analysis and reporting of the obtained data will be done.

Inclusion criteria

• To be 6-12 years old,
• Volunteering to participate in the research,
• Not having a chronic disease, not having a mental or neurological disability,
• Being able to communicate verbally,
• Not taking any medication that has an analgesic effect at least 6 hours before applying to the emergency room.
• Not have a life-threatening (sepsis, shock, respiratory/cardiogenic arrest, etc.) disease

Exclusion criteria

• Not to be between the ages of 6-12,
• Not volunteering to participate in the research,
• Having a chronic disease, mental or neurological disability,
• Taking any analgesic medication at least 6 hours before applying to the emergency room
• Having a life-threatening (sepsis, shock, respiratory/cardiogenic arrest, etc.) disease