Roadmap to the 'Chronic Pain GPS for Adolescents' Intervention: Content and Design Considerations for a Group Peer Support Intervention.

OBJECTIVES: A biopsychosocial approach to understanding and treating pain is crucial; however, there are limited socially targeted interventions for adolescents with chronic pain (ACP). Peer support interventions implemented with other populations are associated with positive outcomes. ACPs perceive peer support to have high potential value. This study explored the preferences of ACP regarding the content and design of a group peer support intervention. METHODS: Fourteen ACP (M age : 15.21 y; 9 females; 3 males, 1 nonbinary, and 1 gender questioning) completed a virtual interview and survey. Interviews were analyzed using inductive qualitative content analysis, and surveys were analyzed using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: Adolescents described how they want to both talk and do activities together within a fun and casual environment with a facilitator present-ideally, someone with lived experience of chronic pain. Preferences were for a medium-sized group intervention that was in-person, at a consistent time on a weekday after school, and semi-structured. Barriers to attending and engaging in the potential group peer intervention were also discussed. DISCUSSION: ACPs desire a facilitated socially focused intervention that provides them with the opportunity to spend time with other ACPs. A group peer support environment where ACPs can provide and receive peer support through sharing their experiences with others who understand them as well as engage in activities was described. The findings from this study provide insights for the development of a group peer support intervention.

Positive Schemas, Coping, and Quality of Life in Pediatric Recurrent Abdominal Pain.

Pediatric recurrent abdominal pain is commonly associated with negative impacts on quality of life (QOL). Positive schemas (core beliefs about the self with subthemes of self-efficacy, optimism, trust, success, and worthiness) are a resilience factor that has not yet been examined within a pediatric recurrent pain context. This cross-sectional study examined (a) associations between positive schemas, pain coping, and youth QOL, and (b) exploratory analyses to investigate whether specific positive schema subthemes predicted QOL outcomes in youth with recurrent abdominal pain. Participants were 98 youth with recurrent abdominal pain (i.e., pain related to a disorder of gut-brain interaction [DGBI] or organic cause) who completed measures on positive schemas, QOL, and pain coping. Age and diagnostic status were controlled for in analyses. Positive schemas were significantly positively correlated with emotional, social, school, and overall QOL, as well as with approach and problem-focused avoidant coping, and significantly negatively correlated with emotion-focused coping. Worthiness was the strongest and only significant predictor of youth social functioning. Positive schemas may be an important cognitive resilience factor to consider within interventions for pediatric recurrent pain.

A systematic review of self and observer assessment of pain and related functioning in youth with brain-based developmental disabilities.

ABSTRACT: Pain experiences of youth with brain-based developmental disabilities are often overlooked and/or misinterpreted, increasing the risk for poor or inadequate pain assessment and management. Ample measures exist to assess acute and chronic pain, yet their utility and frequency of use in youth with brain-based developmental disabilities is unclear and available measures do not have strong measurement properties for this diverse group. This systematic review identified the scope of self-reported and observer-reported pain assessment in studies of youth (aged 3-24 years) with brain-based developmental disabilities (phase 1) and summarized other measures of pain-related functioning for acute and chronic pain (ie, physical, emotional, social, sleep, and quality of life, within the subset of quantitative studies focused primarily on pain, phase 2). A comprehensive search for English-language studies was conducted in August 2022 in Web of Science, CINAHL, MEDLINE, Cochrane CENTRAL, EMBASE, and APA PsychINFO (PROSPERO registration: CRD42021237444). A total of 17,029 unique records were screened. Of the 707 articles included in phase 1, most assessed chronic pain (n = 314; 62.0%) and primarily used observer-report (n = 155; 31%) over self-report (n = 67; 13%). Of the 137 articles included in phase 2, other outcomes assessed alongside pain intensity included motor ability (16.8%), adaptive functioning (11%), quality of life (8%), pain interference (6.6%), mental health (5.8%), and communication ability (2.9%). Cerebral palsy was the most common population in both phase 1 (n = 343; 48.5%) and phase 2 (n = 83; 59.7%). This review provides a foundational understanding of pain assessment in brain-based developmental disabilities and highlights continued inequities in holistic pain assessment for this population.

CARD (Comfort Ask Relax Distract) for school-based immunizations in Calgary, Canada: a pragmatic cluster trial.

ABSTRACT: School-based immunizations are fear-inducing events for many students and contribute to vaccine hesitancy. We developed an immunization delivery framework called the CARD (Comfort Ask Relax Distract) system that incorporates evidence-based interventions to improve the experience (eg, reduce fear, pain, dizziness). We evaluated CARD in grades 6 and 9 students in Calgary, Canada. In this pragmatic, hybrid, effectiveness-implementation, cluster trial, we randomized 8 Community Health Centres providing regional immunization services to CARD or control (usual care). In the CARD group, public health staff educated students about CARD and planned processes to reduce fear cues and support student coping choices during immunization. Students self-reported fear, pain, and dizziness during immunization using a 0-10 numerical rating scale; staff recorded procedure details, including vaccines administered, fainting episodes, and coping strategies used. Staff participated in focus groups afterward. Altogether, 8839 children from 105 schools in the 2019 to 2020 school calendar year were included. Fear was lower for CARD (mean = 3.6 [SD = 3.1] vs control 4.1 [3.2]; mean difference = -0.5; 95% confidence interval = -0.74 to -0.21; P < 0.001). Effectiveness persisted after stratification by student gender (male and female) and grade level (grade 6 and grade 9). Other symptoms did not differ. Compared with control, CARD students used peers, privacy, muscle tension, and topical anesthetics more; verbal distraction, deep breathing, and adult support were used less frequently ( P < 0.05, all analyses). Immunization rate did not differ. Staff reported positive to neutral attitudes about CARD. In summary, this pragmatic trial demonstrated that CARD improved the immunization experiences of students at school.

Comparison of Tympanostomy Tubes Under Local Anesthesia Versus General Anesthesia for Children.

OBJECTIVE: Tympanostomy tube insertion (TTI) is typically accomplished under general anesthesia (GA) in the operating room. We aimed to compare pain between GA and local anesthesia (LA) in surgically naïve children undergoing TTI. Secondary objectives examined patient's quality of life (QoL) and parent's satisfaction. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective single-center study. SETTING: Tertiary pediatric academic center. METHODS: Consecutive children who underwent TTI under GA were compared to patients under LA. Pain standardized observational pain scales (Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability Scale [FLACC], Children's hospital of Eastern Ontario Pain Scale [CHEOPS]) were completed pre-procedure, during the first tympanostomy and second tympanostomy, and post-procedure, as well as 1 week postoperatively. General health-related QoL (PedsQL) and QoL specific to otitis media (OM-6) were measured before insertion and 1 month postoperatively. Parental satisfaction was also evaluated using a qualitative scale. RESULTS: LA group had statistically significant higher pain levels at the beginning (7.3 vs. 0), during the first tympanostomy (7.8 vs. 0), during the second tympanostomy (7.7 vs. 0), and at end of the procedure (6.9 vs. 0) with the FLACC scale (all p < 0.01). Results were similar with the CHEOPS scale. No pain was noted 1 week after surgery in either group. Both groups had similar improvement in their QoL (p > 0.05). Minor complication occurred at a similar rate (p > 0.05). Parents were equally satisfied with their choice of anesthesia in both groups when initially questioned after the procedure (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Children experienced significantly less pain under GA than LA. If LA is to be used, pain and distress-reducing strategies are critical. Shared decision-making with families is essential. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3 Laryngoscope, 134:2422-2429, 2024.

Learning, Hope, and Empowerment: A Reflexive Thematic Analysis of Feedback on a Group Intervention for Parents of Youth With Chronic Pain.

OBJECTIVES: Limited research has investigated parent-targeted interventions in pediatric chronic pain, though these interventions may be an important part of family-centered care. Further, parent perspectives and feedback regarding these interventions are scant in the literature, even though they are crucial for developing, refining, and optimizing treatment options. This study aimed to understand how parents experience and perceive their participation in a cognitive-behavioral therapy-based, parent-targeted group intervention that was delivered either in-person or virtually, with a focus on the treatment components they found most important. METHODS: Data from semistructured focus groups/interviews within 1week post-treatment with 32 parents (n=11 in-person, n=21 virtual) were analyzed using an inductive reflexive thematic analysis. RESULTS: Three overarching themes were generated from the thematic analysis: building a foundation of knowledge, finding normalization and hope through connection and lived experiences, and sharing collective responsibility for pain management. DISCUSSION: Parents perceived a range of benefits from participating in a cognitive-behavioral therapy-based, parent-targeted group intervention, both on themselves and for their youth. Overall, parent perceptions across in-person and virtual intervention delivery were consistent, except for a drawback of virtual participation for developing a deeper social connection among parents. Thus, a relatively brief parent-targeted group intervention was perceived to be a positive experience for parents, though considerations for adapting to virtual delivery and facilitating social connection among parents seem to be important.

Picturing Bravery: A Rapid Review of Needle Procedures Depicted in Children's Picture Books.

Existing research has identified evidence-based strategies for mitigating fear and pain during needle procedures; yet, families often experience limited access to health professionals who deliver these interventions. Children may benefit from learning about such strategies in a developmentally appropriate and accessible format such as a picture book. This review aimed to summarize content related to needle procedures represented in picture books for 5- to 8-year-old children. Key terms were searched on Amazon, and the website was used to screen for relevant eligibility criteria. Three levels of screening and exclusions resulted in a final sample of 48 books. Quantitative content analysis was used to apply a coding scheme developed based on relevant Clinical Practice Guidelines and systematic reviews. Cohen's Kappa indicated strong reliability, and frequencies were calculated to summarize the content. The books were published between 1981 and 2022. All 48 books included at least one evidence-based coping strategy. Distressing aspects such as scary visuals were often included (27.1%), as well as specific expressions of fear (52.1%) and pain (16.7%). Overall, this study paves the way for researchers interested in evaluating the effectiveness of picture books on children's knowledge and self-efficacy, as well as creating interventions for coping.

Perceptions of Adolescents With Chronic Pain About Peer Support: Reflexive Thematic Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Social challenges are a common experience for adolescents with chronic pain. Group peer support for these adolescents could be a promising intervention; however, no studies have focused exclusively on the peer support needs of this population. The present study addressed this gap in the literature. METHODS: Adolescents with chronic pain between 12 and 17 years of age completed a virtual interview and demographics questionnaire. Interviews were analyzed using inductive reflexive thematic analysis. RESULTS: Fourteen adolescents (Mage: 15.21 years; 9 females; 3 males, 1 nonbinary, 1 gender questioning) with chronic pain participated. Three themes were generated: "Being Misunderstood," "They Would Understand Me," and "Moving Forward Together in Our Pain Journeys." Adolescents with chronic pain feel misunderstood and under supported by their peers without pain leading to feeling "othered" by having to explain their pain, yet not feeling free to talk about their pain with friends. Adolescents with chronic pain expressed that peer support would provide the forms of social support they are missing amongst their friends without pain as well as companionship and a sense of belonging due to shared knowledge and experiences. CONCLUSIONS: Adolescents with chronic pain desire peer support from others like themselves, highlighting the challenges in their everyday friendships as the impetus for this support, as well as their anticipated short- and long-term benefits, including learning from their peers and developing new friendships. Findings indicate that adolescents with chronic pain may benefit from group peer support. Findings will inform the development of a peer support intervention for this population.

CARD (Comfort Ask Relax Distract) for community pharmacy vaccinations in children: Effect on immunization stress-related responses and satisfaction.

Introduction: CARD (Comfort Ask Relax Distract) is a vaccine delivery program demonstrated to reduce pain, fear and associated immunization stress-related responses (ISRR) in children undergoing vaccinations at school. This study evaluated CARD's clinical impact when integrated into community pharmacy-based pediatric vaccinations. Methods: This was a before-and-after CARD implementation study in 5 independent pharmacies offering COVID-19 vaccinations to children aged 5-11 years. No changes were made to practices in the "before" phase. CARD interventions were integrated in the "after" phase (e.g., children prepared a coping plan using a checklist, distraction toolkits were placed in waiting and vaccination spaces, vaccinations were performed with privacy, needles were obscured). Children self-reported ISRR, including fear, pain and dizziness during vaccination, and both children and parents/caregivers (herein, parents) compared the child's experience to their last needle (better, same, worse). In the "after" phase, parents and children reported how much CARD helped (not at all, a little bit, a moderate amount, a lot). Results: The study was conducted between January 16 and March 20, 2022. Altogether, 152 children participated (71 before and 81 after CARD); demographic characteristics did not differ. Children's self-reported fear was lower after CARD, when assessed continuously (2.5 vs 3.7 out of 10; p = 0.02) or dichotomously, using a cut-off of 0 vs >0 (58% vs 80%; p = 0.01). Pain was lower when assessed dichotomously (<2 vs ≥2; p = 0.03). There was no difference in dizziness. After CARD, children and parents reported more positive experiences compared to the child's last needle (p = 0.01, both analyses) and more children and parents reported that distraction and child participation in the process were helpful (p < 0.001, both analyses). Overall, 92% of children and 91% of parents said CARD helped. Conclusion: CARD reduced children's fear and improved vaccination experiences for children and parents when integrated in community pharmacy-based vaccinations.

Integration of CARD (Comfort Ask Relax Distract) for COVID-19 community pharmacy vaccination in children: Effect on implementation outcomes.

Introduction: Community pharmacists report that providing vaccinations can be challenging, particularly if the vaccine recipient is a child, because of heightened levels of fear. The objective of this study was to determine acceptability and feasibility of the CARD (Comfort Ask Relax Distract) system as a vaccination delivery framework for children receiving COVID-19 vaccinations in a community pharmacy setting. CARD incorporates evidence-based interventions that reduce fear and immunization stress-related responses in vaccine recipients and was demonstrated to be effective and feasible in other vaccination settings providing vaccinations to children and adults. Methods: This mixed-methods study involved 5 independent pharmacies (with 6 vaccinators) offering COVID-19 vaccinations to children between 5 and 11 years of age. Vaccinating staff and implementation leads from the pharmacy organization participated in a small-scale CARD implementation project (before-and-after design). Afterwards, they filled in quantitative surveys and provided qualitative feedback about their perceptions and experiences in focus group discussions. Qualitative data were analyzed deductively, using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). Results: The study was conducted between January 16 and March 20, 2022. Across both quantitative and qualitative measures, vaccinating staff reported positive attitudes about CARD and alignment with their professional roles. They reported that CARD reduced children's fear and improved the vaccination experiences in children and parents and for themselves. Vaccinators reported increased confidence due to CARD. They reported compatibility of CARD interventions within their practice and that it was time neutral. They maintained use of some interventions after the study. They also provided suggestions and shared concerns about fidelity and future feasibility of continuing various components of the program. Conclusion: CARD was demonstrated to be acceptable and feasible by vaccinators performing vaccinations in children in community pharmacies.

A Parent-Targeted Group Intervention for Pediatric Pain Delivered In-Person or Virtually: Feasibility, Acceptability, and Effectiveness.

OBJECTIVES: Parents play integral roles in their youth's chronic pain and can experience elevated distress related to caregiving. This study examined a cognitive-behavior therapy-based parent-targeted group intervention, including understudied/novel resilience/risk (eg, distress, parenting self-regulation), and compared the effect of in-person versus virtual delivery format. HYPOTHESES: (1) Adequate feasibility and acceptability (enrolment>33%, attendance >60%, attrition <25%, satisfaction ratings >90%), with higher indicators of feasibility in the virtual groups; (2) Significant improvements in parent psychological flexibility, protectiveness, distress, and parenting self-regulation at posttreatment that were maintained at follow-up, with no difference between delivery type. METHODS: Parents were enroled from an outpatient pediatric chronic pain clinic and participated in the group intervention in-person or virtually; questionnaires were completed at baseline, posttreatment, and 3-month follow-up. RESULTS: Enrolment (55% in-person, 65% virtual) and attendance (86% in-person, 93% virtual) were higher, and attrition was lower than expected (4% in-person, 7% virtual). Satisfaction was high (4.95/5 in-person, 4.85/5 virtual); on written feedback, parents enjoyed connecting with other parents (27/56, 48%) the most. The least preferred were the virtual format (5/36, 14%) and timing of the group (6/52, 12%). There were no differences between delivery formats in feasibility/acceptability. The intervention significantly improved parents' psychological flexibility, protectiveness, distress, and parenting self-regulation over time. A small group difference favored the in-person format for psychological flexibility, and an interaction effect for parenting self-regulation was found. DISCUSSION: This standalone parent-targeted group intervention had positive effects on parent outcomes delivered either in-person or virtually.

Understanding the concurrent and predictive relations between child-led emotion regulation behaviors and pain during vaccination in toddlerhood.

ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to further our understanding of early childhood pain-related distress regulation. Concurrent and predictive relations between child-led emotion regulation (ER) behaviors and pain-related distress during vaccination were examined at 2 different ages using autoregressive cross-lagged path analyses. Toddlers were video-recorded at the 12- and 18-month routine vaccination appointments (12-month-old [N = 163]; 18-month-old [N = 149]). At 1, 2, and 3 minutes postneedle, videos were coded for 3 clusters of child-led ER behaviors (disengagement of attention, parent-focused behaviors, and physical self-soothing) and pain-related distress. The concurrent and predictive relations between child-led ER behaviors and pain-related distress behaviors were assessed using 6 models (3 emotion regulation behaviors by 2 ages). At 18 months, disengagement of attention was significantly negatively related to pain-related distress at 1 minute postneedle, and pain-related distress at 1 minute postneedle was significantly related to less disengagement of attention at 2 minutes postneedle. Parent-focused behaviors had significant positive relations with pain-related distress at both ages, with stronger magnitudes at 18 months. Physical self-soothing was significantly related to less pain-related distress at both ages. Taken together, these findings suggest that disengagement of attention and physical self-soothing may serve more of a regulatory function during toddlerhood, whereas parent-focused behaviors may serve more of a function of gaining parent support for regulation. This study is the first to assess these relations during routine vaccination in toddlerhood and suggests that toddlers in the second year of life are beginning to play a bigger role in their own regulation from painful procedures than earlier in infancy.

Child Emotion Regulation Capacity Moderates the Association Between Parent Behaviors and Child Distress During Pediatric Venipuncture.

OBJECTIVES: Medical needle procedures are a common source of pain, distress, and fear for children, which can worsen over time and lead to needle noncompliance and avoidance, if unaddressed. Children's pain experience is multiply determined by external (e.g., parent behaviors) and internal (e.g., cognitive and affective) factors. Some parent behaviors (e.g., reassurance, giving control to child, empathy, apologies, criticism) have related to poor child pain experiences. No research has examined how children's internal emotion regulation, commonly measured via heart rate variability (HRV), may buffer, or strengthen this association. This study is the first to examine child HRV in relation to pain experiences, and as a moderator between a constellation of parent behaviors (reassurance, giving control, empathy) and child pain, fear, and distress. METHODS: Sixty-one children aged 7-12 years undergoing venipuncture and a parent participated. Child HRV was measured before the procedure. After venipuncture, children rated their pain and fear. Parent and child behaviors during venipuncture were coded using the "distress promoting" and "distress" composites of the Child-Adult Medical Procedure Interaction Scale-Revised. RESULTS: Children with lower HRV displayed greater distress. Child HRV moderated the positive association between parent behaviors (reassurance, giving control, empathy) and child distress such that the association was strongest among children with low HRV. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest children with lower HRV, indicative of lower emotion regulation capacity, may be at risk of experiencing higher levels of distress and may be more vulnerable to distress when facing parent reassurance, giving control, and empathy verbalizations during venipuncture.

A Brief Mindfulness Intervention for Parents and Children before Pediatric Venipuncture: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Routine needle procedures can be distressing for parents and children. Mindfulness interventions may be helpful for parents and children but have not been examined for pediatric needle procedures despite showing benefits in the context of pediatric chronic pain and in lab-based pain tasks. METHODS: This preregistered (NCT03941717) two-arm, parallel-group randomized controlled trial examined the effects of a 5 min mindfulness intervention before pediatric venipuncture for parents and children (aged 7-12) compared to a control group on primary outcomes of child pain and fear, secondary outcomes of parent distress, and tertiary outcomes of parent ratings of child pain and fear. Moderators of parent and children's responses to the intervention were examined: state catastrophizing, trait mindfulness, and experiential avoidance. RESULTS: Sixty-one parent-child dyads were randomized (31 mindfulness; 30 control). Parents and children completed measures, listened to a 5 min audio recording (mindfulness or control), and parents accompanied their child during routine venipuncture. The mindfulness intervention involved breathing and encouraging nonjudgmental attention to one's experiences, while the control condition involved an unfocused attention task. Three between-subject MANCOVAs assessed for group differences. Child pain and fear rated by children and their parents did not differ between groups. Parents in the mindfulness group were less distressed during the venipuncture than the controls. Parent state catastrophizing may have moderated the intervention effects, such that parents with moderate and high catastrophizing levels had lower distress following the mindfulness intervention versus control. CONCLUSIONS: The intervention did not reduce child pain or fear but reduced parent distress. It appeared most helpful for parents catastrophizing about their child's pain, which is noteworthy as these children are prone to worse outcomes.

Letting kids play their CARDs (Comfort, Ask, Relax, Distract) to help cope with needle-related fear and pain: Results from user testing.

This study examined perceptions of children and parents about a new web-based CARD (Comfort, Ask, Relax, Distract) game that teaches children how to cope with needle-related pain and fear. A convenience sample of 15 child-parent dyads (children, 6-12 years) participated. Children played the game on a handheld device while being virtually monitored. Activity tracking revealed most children engaged with multiple components. Children reported they understood the game, it was easy to play, they learned coping strategies and believed they could implement them. Children reported lower fear of needles after playing. Parents liked the simplicity and variety of game activities. Most children and parents reported they would use the game or its coping strategies for future needles and would recommend the game. In summary, children and parents found the CARD web game acceptable and appropriate. Future studies can evaluate its effectiveness when integrated into upcoming needle procedures like COVID-19 vaccinations.

Children's Perceptions of Dental Experiences and Ways to Improve Them.

This qualitative study explored children's perceptions of their dental experiences and their acceptability of the CARD™ (Comfort, Ask, Relax, Distract) system, adapted for the dental setting as a means to mitigate dental fear and anxiety (DFA). A purposive sample of 12 participants (7 males) aged 8-12 years receiving dental care at the Paediatric Dental Clinic, University of Toronto, was recruited. Virtual one-on-one interviews were augmented with visual aids. Participants were oriented to and asked about their perceptions of various dental procedures. Data were deductively analyzed, according to the Person-Centered Care framework (PCC). Four themes were identified: establishing a therapeutic relationship, shared power and responsibility, getting to know the person and empowering the person. Children emphasized the importance of clinic staff attributes and communication skills. They expressed a desire to engage more actively in their own care and highlighted the positive influence of pre-operative education and preparation. Participants found the CARD™ system to facilitate opportunities for self-advocacy in their dental care.

Prevalence of pain and fear as barriers to vaccination in children - Systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Injection-related pain and fear are common adverse reactions in children undergoing vaccination and influence vaccine acceptance. Despite the large body of literature on sources of vaccine non-compliance, there is no estimate of the prevalence of pain and fear as contributing factors. The objective was to estimate the prevalence of injection pain or fear of needles as barriers to childhood (i.e., 0-18 years) vaccination. METHODS: Four databases were searched from inception for relevant English and French articles until August 2021. In addition, the references of recent systematic reviews and all articles included in the review were hand searched. Article screening and data extractions were performed in duplicate. Studies were included if they reported on injection-related pain or fear of needles in children (0-18 years) using a checklist/closed-ended question(s). Results were stratified by respondent (parents or children), type of pediatric population (general or under-vaccinated), and relative importance of barrier (pain or needle fear as primary reason or any reason for under-vaccination). Prevalence rates of pain or needle fear were combined using a random effects model. Quality of included studies was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal checklist for prevalence data. Quality across studies was assessed using GRADE. RESULTS: There were 26 studies with 45 prevalence estimates published between 1995 and 2021. For parent reports (of children) and children self-reported reasons for non-compliance, prevalence rates of pain or needle fear ranged from 5 to 13% in a general population and 8 to 28% in an under-vaccinated population, with a substantial variation in the prevalence estimates. There was no difference between category of respondent or relative importance on pain or needle fear prevalence rate. A regression model demonstrated an overall prevalence rate of pain or needle fear as an obstacle to vaccination of 8% in the general population and 18.3% in the under-vaccinated population. All evidence was very low in quality. CONCLUSION: This is the first review to systematically quantify the prevalence and therefore, importance, of pain and needle fear as obstacles to vaccination in children around the world. Pain from injection or fear of needles were demonstrated to be sufficiently prevalent as barriers to vaccination in children to warrant attention. Addressing pain and fear has the potential to significantly improve vaccination acceptance.

Biopsychosocial Contributors to Parent Behaviors during Child Venipuncture.

Children's needle-related distress is strongly related to parental verbal behaviors. Yet, empirical data supporting theorized contributors to parent behaviors in this context remain limited. This is the first study to collectively measure biological (heart rate variability; HRV), psychological (catastrophizing, anxiety), and social (child behaviors) contributors to parent verbal behaviors throughout pediatric venipuncture. HRV was used as a measure of emotion regulation capacity and examined as a moderator in the associations between parent psychological factors and their behaviors, and between child and parent behaviors. Sixty-one children aged 7 to 12 years who presented at an outpatient blood lab for venipuncture and a parent participated. Parent baseline HRV, state catastrophizing, and anxiety were measured prior to venipuncture. The procedure was video-recorded for later coding of pairs' verbal behaviors. Strong associations emerged between child behaviors and parent behaviors. Baseline HRV moderated the association between parent catastrophizing and behavior. Social factors remain a strong influence related to parent behaviors. Psychologically, parent negative cognitions differentially related to parent behaviors based on their emotion regulation capacity. Biologically, low baseline HRV may increase the risk that certain parents engage in a constellation of behaviors that simultaneously direct their child's attention toward the procedure and inadvertently communicate parental worry, fear, or concern.

Parent and child self- and co-regulation during pediatric venipuncture: Exploring heart rate variability and the effects of a mindfulness intervention.

Needle procedures are common throughout childhood and often elicit distress in children and parents. Heart rate variability (HRV), as an index of emotion regulation, can inform both self-regulatory and co-regulatory processes. Mindfulness may serve to regulate distress; however, no research has studied mindfulness or parent and child regulatory responding concurrently during venipuncture. Stemming from a randomized controlled trial investigating a mindfulness intervention, this study sought to describe regulatory responding (via HRV) throughout pediatric venipuncture and the role of cognitive-affective factors (mindfulness, parent anxiety, catastrophizing) in 61 parent-child dyads (7-12 years). We examined (1) patterns of parent and child HRV throughout venipuncture and whether a brief, randomly assigned audio-guided mindfulness versus control exercise affected this pattern and (2) the extent to which changes in parent and child HRV were synchronized throughout venipuncture, and whether parent catastrophizing and anxiety moderated this association. HRV differed as a function of procedural phase. Practicing the mindfulness versus control exercise did not consistently affect HRV in dyads. Positive synchrony was observed during the end of the intervention in dyads with high parental catastrophizing. Otherwise, a pattern of nonsynchrony emerged. Results provide foundational knowledge regarding children's internal (self) and external (parent) regulation mechanisms. RCT registration: NCT03941717.