Date of Publication
2025
Project Team
Erin Leighton, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC and Rebecca Ruid, PhD
Abstract
Fear of needles poses a significant challenge in pediatric healthcare, leading to distress and avoidance behaviors. This quality improvement (QI) project addressed needle fear at two Vermont pediatric primary care offices with the primary aim of decreasing anxiety in patients and caregivers during vaccination procedures by 10% and increasing satisfaction with vaccination protocols by 10% on a 10-point Likert Scale. The secondary aim was to increase the clinical staff’s satisfaction with vaccine protocols level by 10%. Data was collected through patient, caregiver, and clinical staff surveys with comparison pre- and post-intervention. Personalized "Poke Plans" were given to caregivers of 20 patients, aged 2 to 15 months, where distraction and reward preferences could be chosen. Furthermore, age-appropriate educational materials on vaccines were mailed to caregivers one week before scheduled well-child visits. The primary aim was achieved with a 22.1% reduction in anxiety ratings and a 11.1% increase in satisfaction ratings for caregivers. The secondary aim of improving clinical staff satisfaction with vaccination was not met, rather satisfaction decreased by 11.5%. The findings suggest that personalized "Poke Plans" effectively reduced anxiety and distress in pediatric patients and caregivers during vaccination procedures. The decreased staff satisfaction rating may be attributed to the perceived increased time and effort required to implement the "Poke Plans". The interventions demonstrated potential as valuable tools for reducing needle fear in pediatric patients. Future projects should consider a larger and more diverse sample size, including older pediatric patients, and explore strategies to enhance staff satisfaction while preserving intervention effectiveness.
Document Type
Dissertation/Thesis
Recommended Citation
Peier, Lea, "Reducing Needle Fear in Pediatric Patients by Implementing an Outpatient Poke Plan" (2025). College of Nursing and Health Sciences Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Project Publications. 166.
https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/cnhsdnp/166