Viva Medika: Jurnal Kesehatan, Kebidanan dan Keperawatan
Vol 19 No 2 (2026)

Comparative Effectiveness of Animated Video Versus Storytelling Distraction on Procedural Pain in Preschool Children During Intravenous Insertion

Yunita Anggrain (Universitas Islam Sultan Agung)
Herry Susanto (Universitas Islam Sultan Agung)
Indra Tri Astuti (Universitas Islam Sultan Agung)
Siriluk Winitchayothin (Mahidol University)



Article Info

Publish Date
21 Jul 2026

Abstract

Intravenous (IV) insertion is a common invasive procedure in preschool children and frequently causes pain and distress because of limited developmental ability to understand and cope with the procedure. Effective non-pharmacological strategies are essential to reduce procedural pain and support atraumatic pediatric care. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of animated video distraction and storytelling in reducing pain during IV insertion among children aged 3-5 years. A quasi-experimental posttest-only design was conducted in the emergency department of a tertiary hospital. Thirty-two preschool children were recruited using purposive sampling and non-randomly allocated to an animated video group (n = 16) or a storytelling group (n = 16). Pain intensity during IV insertion was assessed using the Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, and Consolability (FLACC) scale. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the Shapiro-Wilk test, and the Mann-Whitney U test. Most children in both groups experienced moderate pain following intervention. The animated video group demonstrated a lower mean FLACC score (3.94) compared to the storytelling group (4.75). Statistical analysis revealed a significant difference in pain levels between the two interventions (Z = -2.015; p = 0.044; effect size r = 0.36), indicating greater effectiveness of animated video distraction. Both distraction methods reduced procedural pain, although animated video distraction was associated with significantly lower pain than storytelling in this single-site emergency department sample. These findings support the integration of audiovisual distraction into pediatric nursing practice to improve comfort and cooperation during IV insertion while future randomized studies are recommended to confirm these results.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

VM

Publisher

Subject

Health Professions Medicine & Pharmacology Nursing Public Health

Description

Viva Medika Is a journal that publishes articles or research results relating to health, nursing and midwifery issues. Viva Medika is published by Harapan Bangsa University twice a year (September and February). The mission of the Journal of Viva Medika is to disseminate and discuss scientific ...