Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 12, 2026
Clinical Practice Protocol of Creative Music Therapy for Preterm Infants and Their Parents in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Published on: January 7, 2020
Effectiveness of Music Therapy on Pain Management during Intramuscular Vaccines in Toddlers at Immunization Rooms
Prakash Jha1, Ambika Rana1, Amisha Rathee1
1Department of Nursing, M.M. College of Nursing, Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to be University), Mullana, Ambala, Haryana, India.
Insights
Music therapy using musical toys significantly reduces pain in toddlers during vaccinations. This non-pharmacological intervention offers an effective distraction, improving the vaccination experience for young children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Pain Management
- Child Health
Background:
- Hospitalization presents a stressful environment for toddlers, often involving painful procedures.
- Vaccinations are common and necessary but can cause significant pain and distress in young children.
- Effective pain management strategies are crucial for improving the pediatric healthcare experience.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of music therapy as a pain management technique for toddlers undergoing intramuscular vaccinations.
- To assess the impact of musical toy intervention on pain reduction during immunization procedures.
- To compare pain scores between toddlers receiving music therapy and those receiving standard care.
Main Methods:
- A quasi-experimental, posttest-only control group design was employed.
- Sixty toddlers were divided into an intervention group (musical toy) and a control group (routine procedures).
- Pain was objectively measured using the Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability (FLACC) scale.
Main Results:
- The intervention group showed significantly lower pain scores compared to the conventional group (mean score 3.43 vs. 7.67).
- A higher percentage of toddlers in the intervention group experienced mild pain (56.7%) versus severe pain (43.3%).
- The musical toy intervention demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in pain during immunization (P < 0.001).
Conclusions:
- Musical toys provide effective auditory and visual stimulation, serving as a safe and affordable distraction.
- Non-pharmacological interventions like music therapy can significantly alleviate pain in toddlers during vaccinations.
- Music therapy offers a promising approach to enhance pain management in pediatric immunization settings.
Background:
Hospitalization is a stressful and painful environment for toddlers. They have to undergo various invasive procedures. Vaccination is most common and inevitable. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of music therapy for pain management during toddlers' intramuscular vaccinations.
Materials And Methods:
A quasi-experimental posttest-only control design was adopted for this study. The study was conducted in the immunization room of two community health centers. A total of 60 toddlers were included: 30 in the intervention group and 30 in the conventional group. A purposive sampling technique was used. Data were collected using a demographic profile, and pain was observed by standardized instrument FLACC scale. In the intervention group, a musical toy was presented before, during, and after the vaccination procedure for approximately 5-7 min. The conventional group followed routine procedures.
Results:
In the intervention group, 56.7% of toddlers experienced mild pain, whereas 43.3% experienced severe pain. In contrast, in the conventional group, 83.3% of toddlers experienced severe pain, and 16.7% experienced moderate pain. The intervention group had significantly lower pain scores than the conventional group, with a mean rank of 15.68 versus 45.32, and mean score of 3.43 ± 1.13 versus 7.67 ± 1.12. The Mann-Whitney test value was 5.50 (P < 0.001). Hence, musical toy intervention was statistically significant in reducing pain during immunization in toddlers.
Conclusion:
Musical toys offer attractive auditory and visual stimulation for toddlers. In addition, these toys are safe, affordable, non-pharmacological distractions and significantly reduce pain scores.
