Effect of Gum Chewing on Pain and Anxiety in Turkish Children During Intravenous Cannulation: A Randomized Controlled Study

Although gum chewing is a simple intervention that can be used for the management of pain and anxiety in the nursing care of children, few studies have assessed this intervention. This study aimed to investigate the effect of gum chewing on pain and anxiety during intravenous (IV) cannulation in children. This randomized controlled study assessed 73 children aged 6 to 12 years in the general paediatric unit in a university hospital in the Trachy Region, Turkey from April to September 2017. In the experimental group, children chewed gum during the procedure. The standard care was applied to the control group. Data were collected via the Children's Anxiety Pain Scale and the Data Collection Form. According to the children's self-report and the nurse's report, the pain level of the experimental group was significantly lower than the control group. Although no significant difference was noted between experimental and control groups' anxiety levels, nurses stated higher anxiety levels than children. The IV cannulation procedure causes pain and anxiety in children. Nurses reported the perception of a higher level of anxiety during the procedure than the children actually experienced. Gum chewing might reduce pain during IV cannulation. Nurses should consider using gum chewing as a simple nursing implementation to increase the effects of other pharmacological and non-pharmacological techniques for management of children's procedural pain. Nurses who work with the children could use gum chewing as a simple, inexpensive, and pleasurable intervention for the management of pain. •Intravenous cannulation is an unpleasant and painful procedure for children.•The nurses perceived children's anxiety as behavioural manifestations of pain.•Uncontrolled anxiety and pain can negatively affect children's future medical experiences.•As a simple intervention liked by children, gum chewing can help reduce pain during intravenous cannulation.