comparison of pain scores by using audiovisual aids.

Conditions: Postoperative Pain, Acute

Summary: this study will be conducted at post anaesthesia care unit of department of anesthesiology, aga khan university hospital karachi. the aim of this study is to compare the post operative analgesia between two groups of post operative paediatric patients, conventional group, receiving conventional analgesia and the group of patients in which distraction technique will be used. conventional group will only receive conventional analgesia while the distraction group will receive conventional analgesia as well as distraction technique. distraction technique that will be used is a non-pharmacological method of pain relief for post-operative paediatric patients in post anesthesia care unit. (games on tablets, listening poems, watching cartoons). conventional analgesia is the standardise rescue analgesia of intravenous administration of analgesics in post anaesthesia care unit prescribed. the analgesia will include i/v tramadol 0.5 to 1mg/kg and paracetamol 10mg/kg). our primary outcome will be pain scores using wong-baker faces® pain rating scale and parent's satisfaction as secondary outcome.

the main purpose of this study is to compare the post operative analgesia between two groups (conventional and the distraction group ) receiving conventional analgesia with or without distraction technique. conventional group will only receive conventional analgesia while group distraction group will receive conventional analgesia as well as distraction technique. this randomised controlled trial will be conducted at post anaesthesia care unit of department of anesthesiology, aga khan university hospital karachi after approval by ethical review committee. after getting registration from clinical trials, the data will be collected. the purpose along with procedure of the study will be explained to the parents/guardian and informed consent will be taken in the ward. patients will be divided into two equal groups by computer generated random number and the information will be provided to the investigator in the form of sealed envelopes which will not be opened until patient consent is obtained. the information and the demographics of the patients will be entered in the proforma attached as annexure. data will be collected in the pre designed form. for the purpose of data collection the form is divided into two sections: section i: - this section will be filled by the primary investigator in operation room. section ii: - this section will be completed by the data collector in pacu. when the investigator will receive patients in post anaesthesia care unit, the nurse will be informed about the allocated group. parents will be present with both groups. patients in the conventional group will receive their routine rescue analgesics. while patients in the group distraction group will be engaged in distraction methods once the child is awake and his/her response will be noted in form ii at given intervals by data collector. heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation and respiratory rate will be noted from the monitors. the pain score will be noted with the help of given wong baker faces pain scale (the first face represents a pain score of 0, and indicates "no hurt". the second face represents a pain score of 2, and indicates "hurts a little bit." the third face represents a pain score of 4, and indicates "hurts a little more". the fourth face represents a pain score of 6, and indicates "hurts even more"). on proforma. routine rescue analgesia (injection paracetamol; 15 mg/kg and injection nalbuphine 1/4 dose of the intra operative dose) will be used if patient still experiences pain. the study will be concluded at discharge from the post anaesthesia care unit. these children will be given tablets/smart phone to choose one of the options like playing games, to listening poems and watching cartoons. it will be the responsibility of primary investigator with assistance of data collector. primary investigator will ensure the study protocol compliance. a copy of the consent form taken will be attached with proforma. the confidentiality of the patient and data will be maintained by assigning a number for each patient data. the electronic data will be password protected and hard copies will be kept in research cell in locked cupboard. at the completion of the study, results will be shared with the parents upon their request. public disclosure includes publication of an abstract or full paper in a scientific journal and presentation at a scientific meeting.

Eligibility criteria:
inclusion criteria: 1. all elective cases on pediatric lists including orthopaedics, plastic surgery, paediatrics surgery. 2. asa level i and ii with age range between 3 and 7 years will be included in the study. exclusion criteria: 1. all pediatric patients who are neurologically challenged, 2. undergoing head and neck surgery, 3. patients undergoing emergency surgery, 4. cases with difficult airway, 5. language barrier and whose parents have not consented to participate in the study will be excluded.