Pediatric Blood Draw Prep Game
Pediatrics / Procedure Preparation / Coping Skills
The Challenge
Blood draws and IV placement are among the most common procedures in a children's hospital. The challenge focuses on patients ages 10-18, especially children with needle phobia, medical trauma, or high anxiety. Fear of needles, pain, or blood can cause severe distress and resistance, turning a routine test into a traumatic experience and increasing stress for families and staff.
A useful preparation experience should help a child gain agency, predictability, and a sense of control, then willingly extend an arm, stay still, and follow instructions while feeling that they played an active role in their care.
What Good Preparation Already Includes
Educational staff currently provide one-to-one preparation by explaining the procedure, practicing on physical models, discussing fears, and teaching coping skills. Teams may also use static videos, basic toys, distraction, numbing cream, parental support, breathing, or counting.
These approaches can work when time and staff are available. Blood draws often happen on short notice, however, so many children reach the procedure without enough preparation.
Possible Directions
One possible direction is a short, intuitive, self-guided mobile or tablet experience that a child can use independently in a waiting area, even during a brief wait.
It could preview the sequence from tourniquet and cleaning through needle or IV placement, collection tubes, bandage, and completion; let the child identify the specific fear; and help them choose a coping plan such as looking away, breathing, counting, music, distraction, or holding a parent's hand. A rehearsal could practice extending the arm, staying still, following instructions, and communicating the need for a pause.
What Success Could Look Like
- Reduced acute distress and greater cooperation during the procedure.
- Willingly extending an arm, staying still, and following instructions.
- Ability to name and use a chosen coping strategy.
- Greater agency, predictability, and sense of control.
- Fewer attempts or interruptions and less stress for parents and staff.
Clinical Boundaries
The experience should prepare and support a child without promising a pain-free procedure or replacing the clinical team's judgment. It should never pressure a frightened child or assign blame for distress.