Reducing Immunization Distress (RID)

Berberich and Landman conducted a randomized clinical trial demonstrating efficacy of a multimodal distraction technique to reduce immunization distress (RID) in 4-6 year old children receiving pre-kindergarten immunizations. Widespread implementation would require fewer steps and a reduction of personnel and the current study addresses the practical time and personnel limitations of the method. The current RID trial proposes a randomized design to compare our current method, the standard technique, (ST), with its minimally altered approach where arm gripping and rubbing adjacent to the injection site are to be performed by the medical assistant conducting the injection, substituting for the non-commercially available 'arm gripper'. Pressure and rubbing stimuli at injection sites are documented to be equally effective. The ST will be compared against the parental participation technique, (PPT), whereby the parent participates in the delivery of pain-relieving interventions in lieu of the second medical assistant. The primary aim of the present proposal is to compare the effectiveness of the more feasible PPT to the ST in reducing the pain and distress of childhood immunization. A secondary aim is to evaluate the impact of parental involvement on the parent and child satisfaction with the immunization experience.