Could a simple ball make shots less painful for kids?
NCT ID NCT07513272
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tests whether squeezing a soft or spiky ball during a blood draw can reduce pain and anxiety in children aged 7 to 12. About 144 kids in a pediatric emergency setting will be randomly assigned to squeeze a soft ball, a spiky ball, or receive standard care. Their pain and anxiety levels will be measured before, during, and after the procedure.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- soft ball or spiky ball
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could offer a simple, drug-free way to make blood draws less painful and scary for children.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-stage study with only 144 children, so results may not apply to all kids. The effect may be small or no better than standard care.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.