No-Needle gadgets take the ouch out of Kids' shots
NCT ID NCT07367659
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tested several non-drug methods—like a textured plastic device called ShotBlocker, a vibrating ice pack (Buzzy), and a skin-tapping technique—to reduce pain from injections in children aged 4 to 6. 120 kids in a pediatric emergency department took part. The goal was to find a quick, effective way to make shots less painful and scary.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- ShotBlocker, Helfer Skin Tap Technique, palm stimulator, Buzzy device
- What this could lead to
- If effective, these simple tools could make routine injections less painful and frightening for young children in emergency settings.
- What could go wrong
- The trial is small (120 children) and completed, so results may not apply to all kids or settings. Pain is subjective and hard to measure accurately in preschoolers.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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120 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Dec 2025
- Finished
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Jan 2026
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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4 to 6 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Children aged between 4 and 6 years, * An intramuscular (IM) medication order was prescribed by a physician, * The IM injection was administered in the pediatric emergency department, * No history of chronic pain-causing illness, * No diagnosis of neurodevelopmental disorders, * Had not received any analgesic medications in the past 6 hours, * No history of syncope (fainting) during previous injections, No diagnosis of mental retardation, * No scar tissue or muscle atrophy at the intended injection site, * Body mass index (BMI) percentile between the 10th and 90th percentiles for age and gender, * Both child and parent provided informed consent to participate in the study. Exclusion Criteria; * Participants were excluded from the study if: * The child was younger than 4 or older than 6 years, * There was scar tissue or muscle atrophy at the injection site, * The child or parent had communication difficulties, * The child's BMI was below the 10th percentile (cachectic) or above the 90th percentile (obese), * Either the child or parent declined to participate in the research.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Sakarya University
Sakarya, Turkey (Türkiye)
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