Injection Pain

This randomized controlled experimental study aims to evaluate the effects of cold spray and the Helfer Skin Tap technique on pain levels during intramuscular pneumococcal conjugate vaccine administration in 12-month-old infants. Vaccination is one of the most common painful procedures during infancy. Pain experienced during injections may cause distress in infants and anxiety in families. Therefore, simple, safe, non-pharmacological methods that can reduce injection-related pain are important in pediatric nursing and primary health care. The study will be conducted at Çorum Söğütlüevler Family Health Center between March 2026 and March 2027. The study population will consist of 12-month-old infants who attend the family health center for intramuscular pneumococcal conjugate vaccination. A total of 120 infants are planned to be included in the study. Participants will be assigned to one of three groups by stratified block randomization: cold spray group, Helfer Skin Tap group, or control group. Each group will include 40 infants. Infants in the control group will receive routine vaccination without any additional intervention. In the cold spray group, cold spray will be applied to the injection site before vaccination. In the Helfer Skin Tap group, the technique will be applied before and during the injection by gently tapping near the injection site in coordination with needle insertion. Data will be collected using a Child Information Form, an Application Record Form, and the Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability Pain Scale (FLACC). Pain responses will be evaluated before, during, and after vaccination. Crying duration and physiological parameters such as pulse, oxygen saturation, and body temperature will also be recorded. The findings of this study are expected to contribute to evidence-based pediatric nursing practices by identifying whether cold spray or the Helfer Skin Tap technique is effective in reducing pain during infant vaccination.

This is a multicenter, randomized, open-label study with a cross-over design. The objective of this project is to compare the intensity of pain induced by injectable antiretroviral (ARV) treatment (Cabotegravir® and Rilpivirine®) in patients infected with HIV-1, depending on the injection site and whether or not they are wearing a virtual reality headset. The reference group being the dorsogluteal injection without headset. Participants who meet the study criteria will be randomized into 1 of 24 sequences. A sequence is composed by 4 injections procedures: dorsogluteal intramuscular injection (A), ventrogluteal intramuscular injection (B), dorsogluteal intramuscular injection with virtual reality headset (C), ventrogluteal intramuscular injection with virtual reality headset (D). Each patient will be their own witness and will experience the 4 intramuscular injection procedures of injectable antiretroviral. The study population are patients carrying HIV-1 and being monitored for this pathology, eligible (naïve patients) or already under Cabotegravir® (CAB) and Rilpivirine® (RPV) injectable treatment.