OBJECTIVES: Insufficient preparation for children who are undergoing bone marrow aspiration can cause anxiety and negative outcomes. Nonpharmacological therapies have been proven to reduce fear in children who are undergoing painful procedures. We have therefore developed a mobile application to help reduce these patients’ anxiety by providing them with procedural information and coping skills. METHODS: This single-blinded, randomized controlled trial included 60 patients age 5 to 12 years old who were undergoing bone marrow aspiration procedures in Thailand that were conducted between May 2015 and May 2016. Sixty participants were randomly assigned to the intervention group (mobile application added to usual care) or the control group (usual care only). Preprocedural anxiety levels were evaluated by visual analog scales (child anxiety visual analog scale); this was repeated in the intervention group immediately after patients used the mobile application. On the day of the procedure, the patients’ cooperation levels were assessed by using the modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale. The total amount of sedative drugs that were used was also recorded. The paired t test and the Wilcoxon signed rank test were used to analyze within-person change, whereas the t test and the Wilcoxon rank sum test were used for group comparisons. RESULTS: The child anxiety visual analog scale score of patients in the intervention group decreased significantly after they used the mobile application (P < .0012). The modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale score of patients in the intervention group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P < .01). There was no difference in sedative use between the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: This mobile application possibly had effectiveness in routine use for reducing anxiety and increasing patients’ cooperation in bone marrow aspiration procedures.
The COVID-19 pandemic has acted as a resetting, generative, and accelerating force in a changing digital world. To prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, social distancing and strict personal hygiene have been implemented in many countries. Many ordinarily crowded places have been closed, including schools and community childcare facilities. School closures have a range of consequences for child development. Distance learning using technology and digital media can provide solutions that enable children to maintain access to learning opportunities. However, digital media and devices can be a double-edged sword. Parents and children need to understand the benefits and disadvantages of these tools, and how to use them more effectively to promote children’s positive experiences, learning, and development in immersive digital environments. Keywords: Digital Media; Electronic media; Child development; COVID-19 Pandemic; Distance learning
Background Many international medical organizations recommend vitamin D supplementation for infants, especially exclusively breastfed infants. In Thailand, however, data regarding the vitamin D status in Thai infants are lacking. Such data would help to support physician decisions and guide medical practice. Methods Full-term, exclusively breastfed infants were randomized into two groups at 2 months of age to continue exclusive breastfeeding either without vitamin D supplementation (control group, n = 44) or with vitamin D3 supplementation at 400 IU/day (intervention group, n = 43) until 6 months of age. At 6 months, the serum vitamin D (25OHD) of the infants and their mothers, serum bone marker, and infants’ growth parameters were compared between the two groups. Results The infants’ serum 25OHD concentration was lower in the control group than intervention group (20.57 ± 12.66 vs. 46.01 ± 16.42 ng/mL, p < 0.01). More infants had vitamin D sufficiency (25OHD of > 20 ng/mL) in the intervention group than control group (93.0% vs. 43.2%, p < 0.01). There were no significant differences in the maternal 25OHD concentrations between the control and intervention groups (25.08 ± 7.75 vs. 23.75 ± 7.64 ng/mL, p = 0.42). Serum calcium, phosphorus, intact parathyroid hormone, alkaline phosphatase, and infants’ growth parameters were comparable between the two groups. After adjustment for the confounding factors, 25OHD concentration in the intervention group was 25.66 ng/mL higher than the control group (95% confidence interval, 19.07–32.25; p < 0.001). Vitamin D supplement contributed to an 88.7% decrease in the prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency/deficiency (relative risk, 0.11; 95% confidence interval, 0.04–0.35; p < 0.01). Conclusions Most full-term, exclusively breastfed Thai infants have serum vitamin D concentration below sufficiency level at 6 months of age. However, vitamin D supplementation (400 IU/day) improves their vitamin D status and prevents vitamin D deficiency. Trial registration The study was pre-registered in the Thai Clinical Trials Registry (TCTR20190622001) on 22/06/2019.
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