Effects of the Helfer skin tap technique and Buzzy® application on the levels of pain and fear experienced by children during vaccination: A randomized controlled trial.

Purpose: Vaccination is an invasive procedure that causes pain. Uncontrolled pain negatively affects all aspects of life, including health. This study aimed to determine the effects of the Helfer skin tap technique and Buzzy® application on the levels of pain and fear experienced by 4-year-old children during measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccination.

Methods: This study adopted a randomized controlled experimental design. The study sample consisted of 96 children (Helfer skin tap technique group: n = 32, Buzzy® group: n = 32, control group: n = 32) who received MMR vaccination. Children in the Buzzy® and Helfer skin tap technique groups received their respective interventions before and after vaccine injection, while children in the control group received routine vaccine injection.

Results: Based on the parents' and nurse's observations, the pain and fear scores after vaccine injection were lowest in the Buzzy® group and highest in the control group. Based on the children's assessments, the pain scores after vaccine injection were lower in the Buzzy® group than in the Helfer skin tap technique group.

Conclusion: Buzzy® application and the Helfer skin tap technique have beneficial effects on children's pain and fear during MMR vaccination. Buzzy® application is more effective in reducing pain and fear during vaccine injection in children than the Helfer skin tap technique.

Practice implications: Nurses can increase the comfort of children by reducing pain during vaccination using Buzzy®.