Fish tank distraction may ease needle pain for preschoolers
NCT ID NCT05252494
First seen Jul 08, 2026 · Last updated Jul 09, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tests whether watching small aquarium fish during a blood draw can reduce pain, stress, and crying in children aged 3 to 6. Half of the children will watch a fish tank while getting blood drawn; the other half will not. Researchers will measure heart rate, oxygen levels, pain scores, and stress to see if the fish help.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- animal assisted therapy (watching aquarium fish)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, watching fish could become a simple, drug-free way to ease pain and stress for young children during needle procedures.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early study with only 70 children. The effect may be small or not work for all kids, and results may not apply to other age groups or procedures.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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70 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Mar 2022
- Finished
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Sep 2022
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
-
3 to 6 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Parents' willingness to participate in the research is in line with the voluntary consent form have obtained written consent from their parents, * The child is between 3-6 years old, * The child musn't not have fish, * No blood sampling has been performed in the last year, * If the child is considered healthy as a result of the examination performed by the doctor, Exclusion Criteria: * if The child has fish * To have taken analgesic medication 4 hours before the procedure * if The child is afraid of fish, * The child has a known allergy history, * Deterioration of skin integrity in the blood collection area, * ifThe child has a visual/hearing disability. * if The child has developmental delay, mental problems * if there is Failure of blood collection in the first attempt.
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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.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Work
Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye)
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.