Efficacy of Sucrose in Reducing Pain during Immunization among 10- to 18-Month-Old Infants and Young Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Purpose: Sucrose is recommended to reduce pain associated with vaccination in neonates. However, research results concerning its effectiveness in infants and young children are inconclusive. This study aims to determine the efficacy of sucrose administration in reducing pain during immunization in 10- to 18-month-old infants and young children as assessed by behavioral pain parameters, crying time, and saliva substance (P) concentration.

Design and methods: This was a double-blind, randomized controlled trial and included healthy infants and young children undergoing their 10- to 18-month immunization. Behavioral pain outcome was measured during, and shortly after the last injection. The infant's pain was also measured by a salivary test using substance (P), and videotaping of crying time.

Results: The study results indicate that, compared with a placebo group, the sucrose group had significantly less pain post-immunization (F (1,129) = 1.72, p = 0.001). Moreover, substance (P) was lower in the intervention group post-immunization, and it could be considered a good predictor of pain reduction associated with immunization.

Conclusions: Sucrose administration during immunization injection helps in reducing pain, which is one of the most critical factors affecting compliance with the immunization schedule. Substance (P) measurement can be used as a predictor of immunization pain level in 10- to 18-month-old infants and young children.

Practice implications: Sucrose is an effective method to reduce needle pain during immunization; therefore, healthcare providers should administer sucrose as a pain relief intervention in the immunization clinical setting.

Keywords: Immunization; Infants and young children; Pain; Substance (P).