EFFECTIVNESS OF A LEG CROSSING AND MUSCLE TENSING TECHNIQUE ON DECREASING VASOVAGAL SYMPTOMS AMONG ADOLESCENTS UNDERGOING VENIPUNCTURE AT SELECTED HOSPITAL BELAGAVI S.T. PATIL a1 AND J. HUBBALLI b ab Department of Child Health Nursing, Vijaya college of Nursing Sciences, Belagavi, Karnataka, India ABSTRACT Intravenous cannulation is a common procedure that can cause vasovagal symptoms among adolescents (10-19 yrs of age). Thus a study was conducted on 76 adolescents those who were admitted in pediatric wards of KLE’s Dr. Prabhakar Kore charitable hospital, Belagavi. To evaluate the effectiveness of a leg crossing and muscle tensing technique on decreasing vasovagal symptoms among adolescents during venipuncture. The subjects were selected by using non probability convenient sampling technique. Data collection was done through observational check list, with an evaluative approach. The study revealed that, subjects in the experimental group accomplished decreased vasovagal symptoms as compared to control group it is statistically significant at P< 0.05 level. KEYWORDS: Leg Crossing (LC), Muscle Tensing Technique (MTT), Vasovagal Symptoms (VS), Venipuncture Adolescence is said to be a most progressive stage of development (WHO, 2017). It starts from puberty and terminates with change to adulthood (10- 19yrs) (Travers and Dacey, 2006). Venipuncture is a procedure used since decades from neonates to adolescents (Portal, 2005). Intravenous cannulation and blood withdrawal are the common procedures performed in hospitals for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes and necessary for blood sampling and to deliver medicines, nutrition. It’s a vital element in the care of pediatric patients (Humphrey et al., 1992). An experimental study carried on 28 patients during cannula insertion, concluded that subjects those who underwent (LC and MTT) experienced a fewer amount of (VS) than the control group. In pediatric patients venipuncture and blood withdrawal is a unique challenge. Often poor visualization and small veins make venipuncture difficult (Humphrey et al., 1992). Venipuncture when performed without sedation and in good light. It minimizes the risk of complications. If the adequate care is provided, it lessens the chance of infection and thrombotic complications (Portal, 2005). Thus IV cannula insertion may lead to some of the vasovagal symptoms such as dizziness, pallor, bradycardia, hypotension, nausea, abdominal discomfort, sweating, seeing black dots, and blurred vision. 5 Thus few symptoms such as bradycardia and excessive sweating may be life threatening among adolescents; therefore it has been found that the leg crossing and muscle tensing technique are helpful in decreasing vasovagal symptoms (Brignole et al., 2002). The care giver can reduce the vasovagal symptoms of adolescents by implementation of leg crossing and muscle tensing technique by making hospital environment suitable for them during venipuncture and blood withdrawal. In this study leg crossing means here the child is in a supine position head end is propped up throughout the venipuncture procedure asks the child to cross his/her legs at the ankles. Muscle tensing refers to ask the child to tense the muscles in his/her arms and torso for about 10-15 seconds and then relax the body for 20-30 seconds. This study aims to reduce the vasovagal symptoms. Hence this study is taken up by me to assess the effectiveness of a leg crossing and muscle tensing to decrease vasovagal symptoms in adolescents those who are undergoing venipuncture. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study involves evaluative approach and the design was Post test only non equivalent group design. The subjects of this study were adolescents (10-19 yrs of age) admitted in pediatric wards of KLE’s Dr. Prabhakar Kore charitable hospital, Belagavi, during the period of August 2019 – April 2020.76 samples were selected for the study by using non probability convenient sampling technique, by using the formula N= 2Pq (z  ) 2 d 2 Where, P = P 1 +P 2 , q = 100-P 2 P 1 = 72%, P 2 = 32% Print ISSN: 0976-2876 Online ISSN: 2250-0138 Available online at: http://www.ijsr.in Indian Journal of Scientific Research DOI:10.32606/IJSR.V13.I1.00010 Received: 24-04-2022 Accepted: 29-06-2022 Publication: 31-08-2022 Indian J.Sci.Res. 13 (1): 81-84, 2022 Original Research Article _________________________________________ 1 Corresponding author