Watching TV is more effective at reducing children's pain during venipuncture than maternal efforts at distraction, according to a recent study in 69 children, aged 7 to 12 years. Divided into three groups, children who watched an age-appropriate cartoon on TV had the lowest pain scores, followed by children whose mothers spoke, caressed, and soothed them. Children who were offered no distraction during the procedure experienced the most pain (Bellieni CV et al: Arch Dis Child 2006;91:1015).
