The Effect of Helfer Skin Tap Technique on Pain, Fear, and Anxiety in Children Undergoing Intramuscular Injection

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of the Helfer Skin Tapping technique on pain, fear, and anxiety in children who received intramuscular injections. The research hypotheses are as follows: H0: There is no significant difference between the intervention group and the the control group in the mean score of the "Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale", "Child Fear Scale", and "Child Anxiety Scale-State" during and after the Helfer Skin Tapping technique. H1: During and after the Helfer Skin Tapping technique, the mean score of the "Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale", "Child Fear Scale", and "Child Anxiety Scale-State" is significantly lower in the intervention group compared to the control group.

In this study, there will be two groups as the intervention (who will receive an intramuscular injection with the Helfer Skin Tapping technique) and the control group (who will receive an intramuscular injection with Routine Technique). A power analysis was performed based on the number of children in both groups, based on another study using the scales to be used in the research. According to the calculations made in the G-Power 3.1 Demo package program, when the effect size was accepted as 0.8, it was seen that at least 32 cases in each group would be sufficient for 80% power. Children who meet the research criteria will be randomly assigned to the intervention and control groups via http://www.randomize.org/ by assigning a number to the order of arrival at the hospital. The intramuscular injection will be applied to both the intervention and control groups. The children in the intervention group will receive an intramuscular injection with the Helfer Skin Tapping technique and the control group will receive an intramuscular injection with Routine Technique in the pediatric emergency service. A researcher and a nurse were employed for the intramuscular injection both for the intervention and control groups. A pediatric nurse performed the intramuscular injection for all children and the other researcher helped the children to assess their pain, fear, and anxiety level. Pain, fear, and anxiety in children were evaluated by the children and their parents before, during, 5 minute after the procedure. The intramuscular injection will be performed by the same nurse both in the intervention and control groups.