The Effect of Hand Puppets and Kaleidoscope on Pain and Fear in Preschool Children

Type of Research: It is a randomized controlled type research. Place and Characteristics of the Research: It was conducted in the pediatric allergy and immunology outpatient clinic of Fırat University Hospital, with children aged 3-6 years who underwent skin testing for allergy. Children are accompanied by a companion during their examinations. In the routine, no distraction method is used for children during the procedure.

Allocation into groups was done using simple random sampling. Collection of data Study data were collected in 3 groups. Hand puppet group: The hand puppet was used to divert the attention of the children in the group during the skin prick test. The cost of the hand puppet was covered by the researcher.

Kaleidoscope group: It was used to divert the attention of the children in the kaleidoscope group during the skin prick test. Kaleidoscope, also known as a kaleidoscope, is a play tool that multiplies the outside image when viewed inside. The cost of the kaleidoscope was covered by the researcher.

Control group: No intervention was made to the children in the control group during the skin prick test.

• In the first stage, randomization of children who met the research criteria was performed.
• The "Introductory Characteristics Form for Children and Their Families" was filled in for the children assigned to the groups.
• After the children's doctor's examination at the pediatric allergy and immunology outpatient clinic, the child and his/her family, for whom a skin prick test was requested, were evaluated in the room where the test would be performed. The children in the hand puppet group were started to play games with the hand puppet by the researcher 1 minute before the procedure. During the procedure, the children in the kaleidoscope group were asked to look inside the kaleidoscope and describe the shapes they saw, thus drawing their attention to the shapes in the kaleidoscope. No application was made to the children in the control group during the skin prick test. Children, their families and the observer were asked to answer the "Wong-Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale (FACES)" and "Child Fear Scale (CFS)" questions before and after the treatment. Skin prick test was applied to all children in the sample group by the same nurse, in accordance with the procedure steps.

Inclusion criteria

• Children aged 3-6 years.
• The child and his/her parents volunteer to participate in the research.
• No mental or neurological disability,
• Not having a life-threatening disease,
• Children's cognitive level and motor development are appropriate,
• No visual or auditory problems,
• Children who have not undergone any invasive procedure other than skin prick testing.
• Those who have not had a skin prick test before.
• The child does not complain of acute pain. (Pain scale VAS score is 0)

Exclusion criteria

• Children requiring intravenous or intramuscular intervention before skin prick test
• Development of complications during the procedure
• Being so agitated that it is impossible to communicate with the child.