A comparison of the effect on pain management of two non-pharmacological methods used during administration of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine (BNT162b2): A randomized controlled study

Abstract

Aims: This study was conducted with the aim of examining the effect on pain intensity of the vibration technique applied at the injection site and squeezing a stress ball during the administration of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccination.Methods: This was a randomized controlled single-blind experimental study. The study included 120 adults who were randomly selected between July and November 2022. One experimental group (n = 40) received local vibration by means of a Buzzy (R) device, and the other (n = 40) were given a stress ball to squeeze. Routine vaccination procedure was performed with the control group (n = 40). The level of pain felt during the vaccination procedure was assessed on a visual analog scale.Results: The pain score of individuals during the vaccination procedure was found to be significantly lower in the vibration group than in the control group (P = .005) and the stress ball group (P = .036), but there was no significant difference between the control and stress ball groups (P = .851). Also, it was found that the variables of gender, age and body mass index did not affect the average pain intensity of individuals during the vaccination procedure.Conclusions: It was found that local vibration applied by means of the Buzzy (R) device was effective in reducing the levels of pain relating to administration of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccination. Nurses should think of the application of vibration as a choice in the management of pain relating to Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccination.