Pain Manag Nurs. 2026 Mar 26:S1524-9042(26)00100-1. doi: 10.1016/j.pmn.2026.03.006. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: There are no randomized controlled trial (RCT) in the current literature comparing live, robotic, and visual animal-based therapies. This single-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted to comparatively evaluate the effectiveness of live parrot, robotic parrot, and parrot picture therapies on pain during venipuncture in adults with chronic illness.
METHODS: The study included 240 patients randomized into four groups. Groups interacted with live parrots, robotic parrots, or parrot pictures during venipuncture. The control group received no intervention. Pain levels were assessed before and after the procedure using the “Visual Analog Scale (VAS).” Analysis was performed using Chi-Square test, One-way ANOVA and paired samples t-test.
RESULTS: There was no difference in pre-procedure pain scores between the groups (p > .05). After the procedure, the VAS score for the live parrot group was 2.01 ± 1.35, for the robotic parrot group 2.03 ± 1.46, for the parrot picture group 2.08 ± 1.62, and for the control group 4.91 ± 1.88. Again, after the procedure, pain scores in all experimental groups were found to be significantly lower than in the control group (p < .001). Live parrot therapy was found to be the most effective pet therapy, followed by robotic parrot and parrot picture therapy. The reduction in pain in the live parrot group was statistically more significant than in the picture group.
CONCLUSION: The research findings revealed that pet therapy applied during venipuncture, especially live animal interaction, may be a potentially effective, safe, and non-pharmacological method for reducing pain. Robotic animals, on the other hand, can be considered a promising alternative when the use of live animals is not possible. It is recommended that these distraction strategies be considered and integration into routine nursing practices be developed as part of patient-centered care.
PMID:41896141 | DOI:10.1016/j.pmn.2026.03.006
