Psychological interventions for vaccine injections in children and adolescents: Systematic review of randomized and quasi-randomized controlled trials

Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Date
Authors
Birnie, K.A.
Chambers, C.T.
Taddio, A.
McMurtry, C.M.
Noel, M.
Pillai Riddell, R.
Shah, V.
HELPinKids&Adults Team
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Wolters Kluwer Health Inc.
Abstract

Background: This systematic review evaluated the effectiveness of psychological interventions for reducing vaccination pain and related outcomes in children and adolescents. Design/Methods: Database searches identified relevant randomized and quasi-randomized controlled trials. Data were extracted and pooled using established methods. Pain, fear, and distress were considered critically important outcomes. Results: Twenty-two studies were included; 2 included adolescents. Findings showed no benefit of false suggestion (n=240) for pain (standardized mean difference [SMD] -0.21 [-0.47, 0.05]) or distress (SMD -0.28 [-0.59, 0.11]), or for use of repeated reassurance (n=82) for pain (SMD -0.18 [-0.92, 0.56]), fear (SMD -0.18 [-0.71, 0.36]), or distress (SMD 0.10 [-0.33, 0.54]). Verbal distraction (n=46) showed reduced distress (SMD -1.22 [-1.87, -0.58]), but not reduced pain (SMD -0.27 [-1.02, 0.47]). Similarly, video distraction (n=328) showed reduced distress (SMD -0.58 [-0.82, -0.34]), but not reduced pain (SMD -0.88 [-1.78, 0.02]) or fear (SMD 0.08 [-0.25, 0.41]). Music distraction demonstrated reduced pain when used with children (n=417) (SMD -0.45 [-0.71, -0.18]), but not with adolescents (n=118) (SMD -0.04 [-0.42, 0.34]). Breathing with a toy (n=368) showed benefit for pain (SMD -0.49 [-0.85, -0.13]), but not fear (SMD -0.60 [-1.22, 0.02]); whereas breathing without a toy (n=136) showed no benefit for pain (SMD -0.27 [-0.61, 0.07]) or fear (SMD -0.36 [-0.86, 0.15]). There was no benefit for a breathing intervention (cough) in children and adolescents (n=136) for pain (SMD -0.17 [-0.41, 0.07]). Conclusions: Psychological interventions with some evidence of benefit in children include: verbal distraction, video distraction, music distraction, and breathing with a toy.

Description
Keywords
pain management, randomized controlled trial, systematic review, vaccination, psychological, children, adolescents
Citation
Birnie, K.A., Chambers, C.T., Taddio, A., McMurtry, C.M., Noel, M., Pillai Riddell, R., Shah, V., and HELPinKids&Adults Team (2015). Psychological interventions for vaccine injections in children and adolescents: systematic review of randomized and quasi-randomized controlled trials. The Clinical Journal of Pain. October 2015 - Volume 31 - Issue - p S72-S89. https://doi.org/10.1097/AJP.0000000000000265
Collections