CUTTING EDGE EDUCATION: BUZZY DEVICE FOR PAIN RELIEVING IN CHILDREN

Abstract

Pain from needle-related procedures in children can alter pain perception, increase pain sensitivity, and generate inappropriate pain responses. Currently pain management includes the use of lidocaine-containing patches, which is complicated to manage in a busy medical setting such as a vaccination centre. We assessed the Buzzy device, which combines vibration and cold, to manage pain in children undergoing a needle-related procedure, compared to the standard lidocaine patch.

AIM: To explore the dental students to investigate whether the Buzzy device was as efficient as the lidocaine patch in reducing or preventing the pain provoked by needles in children.

Methods: Children were randomly allocated (1:1) to use either the Buzzy device or the lidocaine patch during the needle-related procedure. The lidocaine patch was applied to the puncture site for the hour prior to the intervention. The Buzzy device was applied to the puncture site for 30 s and then moved 5 cm along the limb during the procedure. The refrigerated wings were detached if they bothered the child. The child assessed their pain using the validated Revised Faces Pain Scale. The revised faces pain scale comprised six facial expressions from 0, normal "no pain" to 10, a screaming face "severe pain" (2 points/face). The primary endpoint was the average pain score recorded by the child. The study aimed to test the non-inferiority of Buzzy.