Reducing vaccination pain using a multidermatomal or deltoid region buzzy® applications versus control: A randomized...

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Pain Management
• Medical Device Efficacy
• Immunization Practices

Background:

• Injection pain negatively impacts children and parents, potentially leading to vaccine refusal.
• A cold and vibration device (Buzzy®) can reduce immunization pain.
• Medial placement activating multiple dermatomes may enhance device effectiveness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the pain-reducing effects of multidermatomal versus deltoid region application of the Buzzy® device during Td vaccinations.
• To evaluate the efficacy of the Buzzy® device in minimizing immunization pain in adolescents.

Main Methods:

• Prospective randomized controlled study involving 90 13-year-olds scheduled for Td vaccinations.
• Children were randomized into three groups: multidermatomal Buzzy® placement, deltoid region Buzzy® placement, and control.
• Pain was assessed using the Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale (0-10) administered to children, parents, and observers.

Main Results:

• Multidermatomal Buzzy® application resulted in significantly lower pain scores (0.33±0.75) compared to deltoid placement (1.86±1.57) and the control group (5.06±1.14) (p < 0.001).
• Over 80% of children in the multidermatomal group experienced painless injections (25/30), compared to only 1/30 in the control group.
• The relative risk of pain with multidermatomal placement was significantly reduced (p < 0.0001).

Conclusions:

• Multidermatomal application of the Buzzy® device is a highly effective method for pain relief during childhood vaccinations.
• The Buzzy® device, applied to multiple dermatomes, significantly enhances pain reduction compared to single-site application.
• The findings support the use of multidermatomal cold and vibration therapy to improve the vaccination experience for children.