A Comparison of Two Different Tactile Stimulus Methods on Reducing Pain of Children During Intramuscular Injection: A Randomized Controlled Study

The effects of vibration and pressure interventions on children's pain, fear and anxiety: A randomized controlled trial

AIM

The effects of vibration and pressure methods on the level of fear, anxiety, and pain of pediatric patients who were admitted to the emergency department for intramuscular injection were evaluated.

METHODS

This was a parallel group and a randomized controlled study conducted in Turkey. The study sample consisted of 114 children aged between 5 and 10 years who presented to the emergency department to receive intramuscular ceftriaxone injection as part of their treatment. The children were randomized into three groups: Vibration Intervention Group (n = 38), Pressure Intervention Group (n = 38) and Control Group (n = 38). Before the procedure, the level of anxiety and fear of the children were evaluated, and the level of perceived pain during the procedure was immediately evaluated after the intervention. Parents and nurses also rated the level of pain. Data were analyzed with non-parametric tests using SPSS version 26.0.

RESULTS

According to the evaluations made by children, mothers, and nurses, there was a significant difference between pain scores of children in the vibration and pressure intervention groups during the procedure and children in the control group (p < 0.000). There was a significant difference between anxiety and fear scores of children in the vibration and pressure groups and children in the control group before and after the intervention according to the evaluations of the children, mothers, and nurses (p < 0.000).

CONCLUSION

Vibration and pressure interventions used during intramuscular injections administered to children in the emergency department were found to reduce pain, anxiety, and fear based on the evaluations of children, mothers, and nurses.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Vibration and pressure are effective and useful in relieving pain associated with intramuscular injections in children aged between 5 and 10 years.

Effect of the Helfer skin tap technique on pain, anxiety, and fear in children undergoing intramuscular injection: An open-label randomized controlled study

BACKGROUND

Intramuscular injections, which children frequently experience during hospitalization, are one of the most significant causes of pain. Pain control is an important part of care. Therefore, it is necessary to provide practical methods in the field of nursing care to reduce injection-related pain.

AIM

This study aimed to determine the effect of the Helfer skin tap technique on pain, anxiety, and fear in children undergoing intramuscular injection.

METHOD

This randomized controlled clinical study (NCT05250804) was conducted in a pediatric emergency department between January and July 2022. A total of 64 children aged 4-10 years were randomly divided into two groups: 32 children in the Helfer skin tap group (HG), and 32 children in the control group (CG). Data were collected using the Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale, the Child Anxiety Scale-State, and the Child Fear Scale.

RESULTS

After the intramuscular injection, children in the HG had significantly lower levels of pain, anxiety, and fear than those in the CG, with mean scores of 3.25±1.50 versus 5.18±1.51, 5.87±1.56, versus 6.23±1.46, and 1.68±0.53 versus 3.15±0.76, respectively (p<0.001 for all scores).

CONCLUSION

The Helfer skin tap technique has positive effects on pain, anxiety, and fear in children during intramuscular injection. This technique can be used by nurses to reduce the pain, anxiety, and fear felt by children receiving an intramuscular injection.

Effects of two different ball types on pain and anxiety during venous blood draw in children: A randomized controlled study

BACKGROUND

Children presenting to hospitals for healthcare are often exposed to venous blood draw procedures which cause significant pain and stress for children.

OBJECTIVES

Tactile stimulation and active distraction methods can be used during procedural pain management in children. This study was conducted to determine and compare the effects of tactile stimulation and active distraction methods on levels of pain and anxiety during venous blood draw procedure in children.

METHODS

A randomized controlled study design was adopted with a parallel trial design to compare four different intervention groups with a control group. The children's anxiety levels were evaluated using the Children's Fear Scale, and their perceived pain levels were evaluated using the Wong Baker Pain Scale.

RESULTS

The results of the child and observer evaluations revealed the perceived level of pain during the procedure to be lower in the intervention groups than in the control group, and lower in the spiky ball groups than in the round ball groups. The level of anxiety during the procedure was found to be significantly lower than that recorded prior to the procedure, based on the self-evaluation of the child and the evaluation of the observer in the intervention groups. A positive correlation was found between pain and anxiety levels during the procedure.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

The results of this study support the effectiveness of the spiky ball method to reduce perceived pain and anxiety in children during venous blood draw procedures in the pediatric blood draw units.

Comparison of pain levels developed during intramuscular injections to laterofemoral and ventrogluteal regions in children: a randomized controlled study

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to compare the levels of pain developed during intramuscular injections to the laterofemoral and ventrogluteal regions in children.

METHODS

The study population consisted of all children aged between 7 and 12 years who presented to the pediatric emergency clinic of a hospital. The sample consisted of 62 children who met the inclusion criteria and agreed to participate in the study, and the children were randomly assigned to each group (laterofemoral n=31, ventrogluteal n=31). "Buzzy" and "deep breathing" were applied to children in both groups to relieve pain during the procedure. The data were obtained using an Information Form, a visual analog scale, and the Facial Pain Scale-Revised.

RESULTS

It was determined that the children in the ventrogluteal group during the intramuscular injections had lower visual analog scale and faces pain scale-revised scores immediately after the procedure compared with the vastus lateralis group, that is, they experienced less pain, and the difference between the two groups was significant (p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

In children, it is recommended to choose the less painful ventrogluteal region for intramuscular injection and to inform health professionals about it.