The Effect of Medical Clowns and Topical Anesthetic Cream on Pain and Anxiety in Children Undergoing Allergy Skin Tests

Meir Medical Center160 enrolled

Overview

Allergy skin tests are occasionally associated with pain and anxiety in patients undergoing this procedure. The investigators intend to examine if medical clowns compared with local anesthetic cream can decrease these feelings in children.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Enrollment

160

Conditions

Anxiety Disorder Allergic Skin Reaction

Interventions

Cream of Macrogol cetostearyl ethersBIOLOGICAL

The cream will be applied on the volar aspect of both arms for 1 hour

Cream of Lidocaine 2.5 %.and Prilocaine 2.5 %DRUG

1-2 gr. of the cream will be applied on the volar aspect of the second arm; for 1 hour

Care and treatment from a medical clownBEHAVIORAL

Medical clown will entertain the children before, during and after performing the skin test. Placebo cream will be applied on both arms.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 1 YearMax age: 18 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Any child undergoing allergy prick skin test Exclusion Criteria: * Children suffering from coulrophobia (phobia of clowns) * Children with a known hypersensitivity to EMLA 5% cream * Children who have undergone a painful medical procedure (surgery, dental procedures, blood drawing) over the past 3 months * Children who, for medical reasons, must have their skin test performed on an area other than the volar aspect of the arm

Locations (1)

Arnon Goldberg, Allergy and Clinical Immunology Unit, Meir Medical Center

Kfar Saba, Israel

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

The level of anxiety experienced by children undergoing allergy skin tests and receiving application of local anesthetic cream and/or care and treatment from medical clowns

Time frame: 1.5 hour

Secondary Outcomes

Severity of pain experienced by these children

Time frame: 1.5 hour

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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