Efficacy of ShotBlocker in reducing pediatric pain associated with intramuscular injections.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to determine the efficacy of ShotBlocker (Bionix, Toledo, Ohio) in reducing pediatric pain with intramuscular (IM) injections.


METHODS
A prospective randomized controlled trial was conducted in children aged 2 months to 17 years who required an IM injection. Children were randomized to the no-intervention group or the ShotBlocker group. Demographic data and the number of IM injections were recorded. Perceived pain scores were obtained from nurses and caregivers using a 6-point Likert-type scale. Baker Wong Faces scale was used in children 36 months or older. Difficulty using the device was also rated by nurses on a 6-point scale.


RESULTS
One hundred sixty-five children were enrolled with 80 in the no-intervention arm and 85 in the ShotBlocker arm. The mean age of children was 45 months and 56% were male. Perceived pain scores by nurses were higher for the no-intervention group (2.6 vs 1.8, P < .001) as well as by caregivers (2.6 vs 2.1, P = .04). Children aged 36 months and older (n = 64) did not report a difference in pain scores (1.5 vs 1.3, P = .6); however, in a subgroup of children 72 months or older, pain scores trended higher in the no-intervention group (1.3 vs 0.5, P = .051). Nurse-perceived difficulty of ShotBlocker use was low 1.39 (+/-1.1).


CONCLUSIONS
Nurses and caregivers noted lower pain scores in children assigned to the ShotBlocker group. These differences were not as evident when children rated their own pain.
Drago
Lisa A
LA
Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-Robert Wood Medical School at Camden, NJ 08103, USA. drago-l@cooperhealth.edu
Singh
Sabina B
SB
Douglass-Bright
April
A
Yiadom
Maame Yaa
MY
Baumann
Brigitte M
BM
D000293:Adolescent; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric