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Published on: August 7, 2017
Perceived discomfort levels in healthy children participating in vaccine research
Anna E Westra1, Elske J M van Gils, Fenne Aarts
1Department of Pediatrics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands. a.e.westra@lumc.nl
Insights
Pediatric discomfort during medical procedures like vaccinations and blood draws is often underestimated. This study found venipunctures caused the most discomfort in young children, with discomfort increasing with age.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Child Psychology
- Medical Ethics
Background:
- Review boards require risk-benefit assessments for research protocols, including discomfort levels.
- Limited data exists on children's perceived discomfort during common medical procedures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess perceived discomfort levels in children aged 0-2 years undergoing specific medical procedures.
- To compare discomfort levels across vaccinations, venipunctures, and nasopharyngeal swabs.
- To investigate the relationship between age and discomfort in this pediatric cohort.
Main Methods:
- A study involving 671 healthy children aged 0-2 years.
- Assessment of perceived discomfort during vaccinations, venipunctures, and nasopharyngeal swab collection.
- Comparison of children's experienced discomfort with parental expectations.
Main Results:
- Venipunctures caused moderate to high discomfort in 49% of participants.
- Nasopharyngeal swabbing caused moderate to high discomfort in 28% of participants.
- Vaccinations caused moderate to high discomfort in 12% of participants.
- Higher discomfort levels were associated with increasing age within the 0-2 year range.
- Parental expectations generally aligned with perceived discomfort levels across procedures.
Conclusions:
- Venipuncture represents a significant source of discomfort for young children.
- Age is a factor influencing pediatric discomfort during medical interventions.
- Understanding and managing procedural discomfort is crucial for pediatric research and care.
Abstract:
When assessing the risks of a research protocol, review boards need to consider not only the possible harms but also the expected discomfort levels caused by the various study procedures. However, data on how children experience various study procedures are scarce. This study assessed perceived discomfort levels in 671 healthy children aged 0-2 years under-going vaccinations, venipunctures, and nasopharyngeal swab taking. In half of the study participants, venipunctures caused a moderate or high level of discomfort (49%). Corresponding figures for nasopharyngeal swabbing and vaccinations were 28% and 12%, respectively. Within the reported age group, increasing age was related with higher discomfort levels. In a majority of cases for all study procedures, the perceived levels of discomfort met the parents' expectations.
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