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Blowing away shot pain: a technique for pain management during immunization
G M French1, E C Painter, D L Coury
1Department of Pediatrics, Ohio State University, College of Medicine, Children's Hospital, Columbus 43205.
Insights
Blowing bubbles during vaccinations significantly reduced pain behaviors in preschool children. This simple distraction technique effectively helps children cope with immunization pain.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pain Management
- Immunization Practices
- Behavioral Psychology
Background:
- Immunization is essential for child health but can cause pain and distress.
- Preschool-aged children often exhibit significant pain behaviors during injections.
- Effective pain management strategies are crucial for positive healthcare experiences.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of an active distraction technique in mitigating pain during diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus (DPT) immunization in preschool children.
- To assess the impact of a simple, teachable distraction method on children's pain perception and expression.
Main Methods:
- A randomized, unblinded controlled study was conducted with 149 children aged 4-7 years.
- Participants were assigned to either a control group or an intervention group taught to repeatedly blow out air during injection.
- Pain was assessed through observed pain behaviors and subjective self-reports.
Main Results:
- Children employing the 'blowing bubbles' distraction technique exhibited significantly fewer pain behaviors (P < .04).
- A trend towards lower subjectively reported pain was observed in the intervention group (P = .06).
- No significant differences were found in pain scores assessed by nurses or parents.
Conclusions:
- A simple active distraction technique, such as blowing out air, can effectively reduce pain and distress in children during immunization.
- Healthcare providers should consider incorporating such simple, non-pharmacological methods to improve pediatric immunization experiences.
- Encouraging distraction techniques can enhance coping mechanisms for brief, painful procedures in young children.
Objective:
To study the effect of an active distraction technique on pain in preschool children receiving diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus immunization.
Design:
Randomized, unblinded controlled study.
Setting:
Columbus Public Health Department Immunization Clinics.
Participants:
One hundred forty-nine 4- to 7-year-old children.
Intervention:
Children were taught to blow out air repeatedly during the injection, as if they were blowing bubbles.
Results:
Children who were taught to blow out air during their shots had significantly fewer pain behaviors (P < .04) and demonstrated a trend toward lower subjectively reported pain (P = .06). There was no significant difference in the nurse or parent visual analog scale scores.
Conclusions:
A simple distraction technique can be effective in helping children cope with the pain of immunization. The use of such a technique to relieve the pain and distress associated with even a brief painful procedure should be encouraged.
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