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Reducing children's pain-distress associated with injections using cold: a pilot study
Insights
Applying ice before injections did not reduce pain or distress in preschool children. Further research is needed to explore effective pain management strategies for pediatric immunizations.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nursing
- Pain Management
- Child Psychology
Background:
- Pediatric injections can cause significant pain and distress.
- Effective pain management is crucial for positive healthcare experiences in children.
- Non-pharmacological interventions are sought to minimize procedural pain.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of topical ice application in reducing pain-distress during childhood immunizations.
- To evaluate the impact of a simple, non-invasive intervention on children's response to injections.
Main Methods:
- An experimental design was employed with 38 preschool children.
- One group received topical ice application to the injection site for 30 seconds.
- Pain and distress were measured using the Global Mood Scale, pulse rate, Oucher scale, and Faces scale.
Main Results:
- The study found no statistically significant reduction in pain-distress in the group that received ice.
- All measured variables (mood, pulse, pain scales) failed to demonstrate a benefit from ice application.
- The intervention did not alleviate the children's experience of pain during injections.
Conclusions:
- Topical ice application for 30 seconds was ineffective in reducing pain-distress in preschool children undergoing injections.
- The study highlights the need for further investigation into effective pain relief methods for pediatric procedures.
- Consideration of measurement tools and alternative interventions is recommended for future child nursing care research.
Abstract:
This study used an experimental design to test the question, "Does ice reduce the pain-distress children experience with injections?" One half of the 38 preschool children had ice applied to the preimmunization site for 30 seconds. The remaining children received the injection without the extra intervention. Measures included the Global Mood Scale, pulse rate, Oucher scale, and Faces scale. The results failed to show that ice reduces children's pain-distress with injections. Reasons for the failure are discussed, with comments on the various measures and suggestions for further study in this area of child nursing care.