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Parents can help
children cope with pain of injections
When it comes to getting injections,
the common parental refrain that 'it will hurt me more than it will hurt you' is not much
comfort for a fearful youngster.
But a report suggests that a few simple techniques can alleviate some of the pain and
distress of immunizations, even for infants. Such techniques include using pacifiers,
holding or rocking infants, distracting them with a toy or using positive language--such
as, 'you're doing well'--while they get the injection.
The researchers note that while
immunization is an important part of a child's healthcare, it is often a source of pain,
anxiety and stress for children and parents. In the study of children aged 2 months to 24
months, the use of positive or neutral language before injections appeared to help those
as young as 6 months to cope with the pain. Such language included humor and talking about
subjects not related to the medical visit. On the other hand, reassuring the child,
bargaining with them or offering explanations of the medical procedure, appeared to
increase distress in children.
How well such techniques work may also
depend on the child's state of mind at the time of the doctor's visit. Children who were
alert or fussy before receiving injections seemed most receptive to such techniques.
Positive language and pacifiers did little or nothing to benefit those who were sleeping
or outright crying before receiving injections.
In the July issue of the Archives of
Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Felt and colleagues explain that their findings
suggest that 'the behavioral state of the infant prior to procedures may have differential
effects.'
Their study included a group of parents
who received information about how to help their child cope during immunization and a
group of parents who did not receive the information. The investigators videotaped
children getting shots and parents rated their infant's comfort and their own comfort at
various times during the visit.
Researchers also took saliva samples
from children and their parents at various points to measure levels of cortisol, a hormone
that increases in the body during times of stress.
Parents who received information about
pain relief were more likely to use behavioral techniques to alleviate stress than parents
who did not receive information, the findings indicate.
These infants appeared to experience
less pain during the injection and were also more comfortable immediately afterwards,
according to parental reports. They also had lower levels of cortisol after the
immunizations |
