Addressing parental concerns about pain during childhood vaccination: is there enough time to include pain management in the ambulatory setting?
ABSTRACT Pain from vaccine injections remains undertreated, despite the availability of numerous pain-relieving strategies. Healthcare providers report lack of time within current office workflows as a major barrier to routine pain management. The objective was to document the total time involved in outpatient vaccine appointments to test the hypothesis that offering pain-relieving strategies can be practically implemented when considering the element of time to vaccine injection.
Prospective naturalistic study in 8 urban outpatient primary care clinics (4 pediatric and 4 family practice) in Toronto. For 48 to 59 consecutive childhood vaccination appointments at each site, child waiting time from clinic arrival until first vaccine injection was tracked.
Altogether, 405 vaccine appointments were included. The median age of the child undergoing vaccination was 12 months. The mean (SD) time from clinic arrival until first vaccine injection was 41.6 minutes (20.9), with a range of 7 to 132 minutes. Linear regression identified a significant (P<0.05) difference according to clinic [ranging from 19.4 min (6.5) to 57.5 min (20.2)] and number of family members in the appointment [ranging from 40.6 min (21.0) for an appointment in the index child only to 50 min (14.3) for an appointment in the index child and 2 other family members].
Contrary to healthcare provider perceptions, the timing of outpatient childhood vaccine appointments allows for the inclusion of pain management interventions. Efforts should now focus on educating healthcare providers and parents about the value of pain management and how to implement evidence-based strategies.
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ABSTRACT: The introduction of inactivated polio vaccines (IPV) is imminent. In view of the Polio Eradication and Endgame Strategic Plan 2013-2018, parental acceptance of IPV will be important for achieving universal coverage. In view of the imminent introduction of IPV, it is only reasonable to assess the awareness and acceptance of IPV, so that necessary socio-anthropological measures would be put in place. This study is aimed at determining the level of awareness and acceptance of IPV by parents.Vaccine 09/2014; · 3.49 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: To evaluate knowledge uptake from a parent-directed factsheet about managing pain during infant vaccinations, and the added influence of a pre-test. Solomon 4-group randomized controlled trial. New mothers hospitalized after the birth of an infant were randomized to 1 of 4 groups: two included the intervention (factsheet about pain management) and two included the control (information on another topic). A pre-test was given to one intervention and one control group. Following maternal review of allocated information, post-tests were administered in all groups. Both control groups received the information after post-testing. A follow-up telephone survey after 2 months measured knowledge retention and utilization of pain management interventions. 120 mothers participated (July, 2012 - February, 2013); demographics did not differ among groups. The 2 factsheet groups demonstrated more knowledge (P<0.05) about effective pain management [mean without pre-test: 5.6 (SD=2.0); with pre-test: 6.9 (1.6)] compared to the two control groups [without pre-test: 3.2 (2.2); with pre-test: 3.4 (2.5)] immediately after review; and the factsheet and pre-test group scored higher than the factsheet only group. In groups with a pre-factsheet baseline, knowledge was higher at follow-up compared to baseline. Follow-up knowledge and utilization of pain management interventions did not differ among groups. The factsheet led to acute gains in knowledge and knowledge gains persisted after 2 months. Acutely, knowledge was bolstered by the pre-test. These results can be used to guide future research and implementation of the factsheet.The Clinical journal of pain 11/2013; · 2.70 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: To evaluate the effectiveness of topical eutectic mixture of local anaesthetics (EMLA®) cream in reducing the pain associated with vaccination injections. This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study that included children who presented for routine immunization. Eligible children were randomly assigned to receive either EMLA® or placebo cream. The Modified Behavioural Pain Scale (MBPS) was used to assess baseline and postvaccination pain scores, while a visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to assess pain at the time of the needle prick and at the end of the injection. A total of 107 children were enrolled in the EMLA® group and 109 children in the placebo group. The difference between the pre- and postvaccination MBPS scores was significantly lower in the EMLA group than in the placebo group (2.56 ± 1.96 versus 3.95 ± 2.20, respectively). The VAS scores at the time of the needle prick and after the injection were significantly lower in the EMLA® group compared with the placebo group (1.60 ± 1.67 versus 3.24 ± 2.01; 3.29 ± 2.27 versus 4.86 ± 2.20; respectively). Application of EMLA® cream can be effectively incorporated as a routine pain-relieving intervention within routine vaccination appointments.The Journal of international medical research 02/2014; · 1.10 Impact Factor