Back to school readiness scale for children with oncological problems: 7-18 years of age.

INTRODUCTION: Childhood cancers are one of the important health problems in both developed and underdeveloped countries. The cancer treatment process is a difficult period that can last for months or years, interrupt school activities for a while, or even cause them to leave completely, and require long-term hospitalization. PURPOSE: This study was carried out to develop the Back to School Readiness Scale for Children with Oncological Problems: 7-18 years of age, and to establish its validity and reliability. METHOD: The research is a methodological study and the validity and reliability study of a developed scale was conducted. RESULTS: Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) value was determined as 0.951. As a result of Bartlett's test analysis, Chi-Square value is 6261.566, degree of freedom is 703 and the value found is significant (p = 0.00, p < 0.05). While the loadings of the items on the first factor vary between 0.79 and 0.46, the loads on the second factor vary between 0.76 and.47. The item-total-test correlation value is 0.63. Total Croncabh alpha (α) value of the scale is 0.97. CONCLUSION: Back to School Readiness Scale for Children with Oncological Problems: 7-18 years of age is a valid and reliable measurement tool. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Returning to school is a difficult process for children living with cancer due to long-term hospitalization. This scale can be used by both pediatric nurses and school nurses to evaluate children's return to school. Additionally, children and families can get an idea about preparing for returning to school by applying this scale.

The Effect of Three Different Methods on Venipuncture Pain and Anxiety in Children: Distraction Cards, Virtual Reality, and Buzzy® (Randomized Controlled Trial).

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the distraction cards, virtual reality and Buzzy® methods on venipuncture pain and anxiety in children aged 7-12 years. DESIGN AND METHODS: This was a randomized controlled trial with parallel groups conducted between November 16, 2017 and August 14, 2018 at the pediatric venipuncture unit of a university hospital in Western Turkey. The sample consisted of 142 children who met the inclusion criteria. The experimental group consisted of 108 children divided into three groups: Distraction Cards (DC; n = 35), Virtual Reality (VR; n = 37), and Buzzy® (n = 36). The control group (n = 34) received no intervention during venipuncture. Data were collected using a descriptive characteristics form, and the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Wong-Baker FACES, and Children's Fear Scale (CFS). The participants themselves and their parents and the researcher scored venipuncture pain and anxiety levels. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee. Permission was obtained from related institutions. Informed consent was obtained from parents. Verbal consent was obtained from children prior to participation. RESULTS: Buzzy® group had the lowest mean VAS score (2.2 ± 2.0), followed by the VR (2.7 ± 2.8), DC (3.4 ± 2.4), and control (5.2 ± 2.8) groups (p < 0.05). According to all raters (child, parent, and researcher), the Buzzy® group had the lowest mean Wong Baker FACES score, followed by the VR, DC, and control groups (p < 0.05). According to all raters, the Buzzy® group had the lowest mean CFS score, followed by the VR, DC, and control groups (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The DC, VR, and Buzzy® methods were effective in reducing venipuncture pain and anxiety in children. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Nurses can use the DC, VR, and Buzzy® methods to help reduce venipuncture pain and anxiety in children. The clinical trial registration number is NCT04421430. (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/study/NCT04421430).