The effect of the magic glove technique on pain and anxiety in children during leuprolide injection: A quasi-experimental study.

BACKGROUND AND

OBJECTIVE

Non-pharmacological interventions are increasingly applied to reduce injection-related pain and anxiety in children. Leuprolide injections, commonly used for precocious puberty, may cause considerable distress. This study evaluated the effectiveness of the magic glove technique in reducing pain and anxiety during these injections.

METHODS

A quasi-experimental study was conducted on 60 children referred to the injection unit of the emergency department at Amir-al-Momenin Hospital, Semnan, Iran, between March and June 2024. Participants were recruited by convenience sampling and assigned to intervention (n = 30) and control (n = 30) groups using block randomization. The control group received routine care, while the intervention group underwent the magic glove technique before injection. Pain intensity (Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale) and anxiety levels (Observational Scale of Behavioral Distress-Revised) were recorded. Data were analyzed with ANOVA and ANCOVA in Stata 14.

RESULTS

Mean pain scores were significantly lower in the intervention group (1.53 ± 0.87) than in controls (6.73 ± 1.02; p < 0.0001, Cohen's d = -2.47). Anxiety levels decreased in the intervention group (2.13 ± 0.65 to 0.82 ± 0.47), whereas controls showed an increase (1.95 ± 0.61 to 2.57 ± 0.58; p < 0.0001, Cohen's d = -3.57).

CONCLUSION

The magic glove technique is a simple, non-invasive, and cost-effective intervention that significantly reduces pain and anxiety in children undergoing leuprolide injections. It may be integrated into routine pediatric nursing care, though further research is recommended to examine its use in other procedures and age groups.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: The magic glove technique is a simple and low-cost method that can be integrated into pediatric nursing to reduce pain and anxiety during injections. Training nurses in this technique may promote child-centred, compassionate, and anxiety-reducing care.