Audiovisual distraction calms children during painful medical/dental treatments

Issued in the ‘Saudi Journal of Medicine & Medical Sciences’, new research underlined the potential of audiovisual distraction (AD) in alleviating pain and anxiety during medical and dental procedures for children aged 3 to 8. To better understand its effectiveness, a systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted by Raju Umaji Patil et al., analyzing randomized control trials and experimental studies published between 2005 and 2021.

This review included four studies from South Asia, Africa, and North America, which utilized the Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability (FLACC) scale to measure pain levels. The analysis revealed that 3 out of 4 studies reported noteworthy decreases in pain and anxiety with AD compared to control groups, with a high level of statistical significance (P < 0.00001). However, one study did not display any meaningful difference.

The overall evidence suggests a positive trend, but inconsistency among the studies emphasizes the need for future research using diverse AD procedures across various populations to authenticate these initial findings. While initial findings are promising, suggesting that AD could be a valuable tool in reducing young patients' discomfort, the current body of evidence is still limited.