Using a kaleidoscope to reduce pain in children with burn injuries
Distraction as Treatment for Pain in Children in Resource-scarce Settings
This study tests if using a kaleidoscope can help reduce pain for kids aged 7-12 with burn injuries during their dressing changes.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 126 (estimated) |
| Ages | 7 Years to 12 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Vrinnevi Hospital Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Empangeni, KwaZulu-Natal) |
| Trial ID | NCT06933303 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This study evaluates the effectiveness of a non-electronic distraction method, specifically a kaleidoscope, to alleviate acute pain in pediatric patients aged 7-12 years undergoing dressing changes for partial thickness burn injuries. Conducted in resource-scarce settings, the randomized controlled trial will compare the pain levels of children using the kaleidoscope against a control group receiving standard care without distraction. The aim is to provide a simple, cost-effective tool for pain management in environments where medication and advanced equipment are limited.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are pediatric patients aged 7-12 years with partial thickness burn injuries requiring dressing changes.
Not a fit: Patients with severe burn injuries, those receiving pain medication, or those with impairments that prevent the use of a kaleidoscope may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could significantly improve pain management for children in low-resource settings during medical procedures.
How similar studies have performed: While distraction techniques have been used in various settings, this specific approach using a kaleidoscope in resource-scarce environments is novel and has not been extensively tested.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Pediatric patients between the age of 7 and 12 years old with burn injuries requiring dressing changes in the outpatient clinic, who in regular practice (non-research setting) would not receive any analgesics; * Type of burn injury: partial thickness burns with a burned area not greater than 10% at the moment of the first dressing change measurement as part of this research Exclusion Criteria: * Patients who received split skin grafts for their burns; * Patients on sedatives or anti-epileptics; * The use of pain-relieving medication other than paracetamol or ibuprofen; * Painful additional injuries other than the burn injury; * Patients who are nursed in isolation; * Physical or mental impairments which make it impossible to adequately comply with the trial protocol. For example, visual impairments, impaired ability to communicate, psychological comorbidities, and burns that limit the use of a kaleidoscope (facial burns or burns to both hands); * Retrospective exclusion if the patient in the intervention group did not look through the kaleidoscope for more than 50% of the procedure time.
Where this trial is running
Empangeni, KwaZulu-Natal
- Ngwelezana Hospital — Empangeni, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Måns Muhrbeck Senior surgical consultant, MD, PhD
- Email: mans.muhrbeck@liu.se
- Phone: 46-703338852
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.