Let's Stop the Pain: A Trauma-Informed Care Approach to Pediatric Vaccination

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Medicine
• Pain Management
• Psychological Health

Background:

• Painful medical procedures like vaccinations can cause significant, lasting anxiety in children.
• This fear can persist into adulthood, impacting healthcare engagement.
• Underserved pediatric populations may face heightened risks due to limited access to specialized care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of implementing a trauma-informed care approach on pediatric pain management.
• To evaluate changes in pain management strategies in an underserved outpatient setting.
• To reduce lifelong anxiety associated with routine injections in pediatric patients.

Main Methods:

• Assessed pre- and post-intervention changes in pain management practices.
• Implemented intentional and humane pain management techniques.
• Focused on distraction, positioning, and purposeful language.
• Utilized a trauma-informed care framework.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated a reduction in patient anxiety following the intervention.
• Observed improved adoption of humane pain management strategies by staff.
• Successfully adapted pain management for an underserved pediatric population.

Conclusions:

• Trauma-informed care and specific pain management techniques effectively mitigate pediatric procedural anxiety.
• Intentional approaches to pain during vaccinations can prevent long-term psychological distress.
• Outpatient pediatric settings can successfully implement these strategies for improved patient well-being.