title: Efficacy of ShotBlocker in reducing pediatric pain associated with intramuscular injections.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: 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
authors.forename: Lisa A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Drago
authors.forename: Sabina B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: April
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Douglass-Bright
authors.forename: Maame Yaa
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Yiadom
authors.forename: Brigitte M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Baumann
mesh_terms: 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