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Children's responses to sequential versus simultaneous immunization injections
1IntegraHealth Pediatrics, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, USA.
Insights
Simultaneous immunizations did not reduce distress behaviors in young children compared to sequential shots. However, parents expressed a preference for the simultaneous injection method.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Immunization Practices
- Child Psychology
Background:
- Childhood immunizations are a critical aspect of preventive healthcare.
- Assessing and managing pediatric distress during medical procedures is essential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare distress behaviors and perceptions in children receiving simultaneous versus sequential immunizations.
- To evaluate parental preferences for immunization administration methods.
Main Methods:
- Experimental study with 46 children aged 4-6 years, randomly assigned to simultaneous or sequential injection groups.
- Distress behaviors assessed via direct observation (Observation Scale of Behavioral Distress-Revised) and self-report (Wong-Baker FACES).
- Parental distress perceptions measured using the Visual Analog Scale.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in observed distress behaviors or children's self-reported distress between simultaneous and sequential groups.
- Parents reported lower distress perceptions for the sequential group, though unrelated to the intervention.
- Parents showed a clear preference for the simultaneous immunization method.
Conclusions:
- The simultaneous administration of two immunization injections does not appear to reduce distress behaviors in young children.
- Despite no difference in distress, parents preferred the simultaneous method for administering vaccines.
Introduction:
The purpose of this study was to compare distress behaviors and perceptions of distress in 4- to 6-year-old children who received two immunization injections simultaneously with those in children who received their immunizations sequentially.
Method:
This experimental study used a convenience sample of 46 children scheduled for pre-kindergarten examinations. The children were randomly assigned to either a sequential injection or a simultaneous injection group. Direct observation and videotapes were made of the children's behaviors before and after injection. Distress behaviors were analyzed with the Observation Scale of Behavioral Distress-Revised, and perceptions of distress were obtained from both children (with the Wong-Baker Pain Rating Scale [FACES]) and parents (with the Visual Analog Scale).
Results:
Results of the Observation Scale of Behavioral Distress-Revised showed no significant differences in children's distress behaviors between the two groups either before or after injection. The children's self-reports of distress also showed no group differences. Parents' perceptions of the children's distress before and after injection were lower for the sequential group but were judged to be unrelated to the intervention. Given the opportunity to state a preference, however, parents preferred the simultaneous method.
Discussion:
The simultaneous procedure was not found to be associated with reduced distress behaviors; however, parents preferred the simultaneous method.