Estratégias não Farmacológicas Utilizadas pelo Enfermeiro na Gestão da Dor Durante a Vacinação Infantil: Estudo Comparativo

Background: Childhood vaccination is associated with fear and pain, and non-pharmacological strategies are effective in reducing them. Objective: To describe the non-pharmacological strategies used by family health nurses to relieve pain during the vaccination of children up to 10 years of age and to assess their knowledge of the guidelines issued by the Ordem dos Enfermeiros (Portuguese Nursing Regulator) and the Portuguese Directorate-General of Health. Methodology: An observational and comparative study was conducted using convenience sampling and a digital questionnaire that included variables such as socioprofessional characteristics, knowledge, and non-pharmacological pain control strategies, which were analyzed according to children’s age. Results: Sixty-four family health nurses participated. Most were unaware of the recommendations of the Ordem dos Enfermeiros and the Portuguese Directorate-General of Health. The most frequently reported strategies were rocking and gentle stroking (75%), distraction (67.2%), positioning (59.4%), and breastfeeding (50%) for children up to 6 months of age; after 5 years of age, cognitive-behavioral strategies predominated. Conclusion: Family health nurses demonstrated limited knowledge regarding non-pharmacological strategies for pediatric pain control, highlighting the need for targeted training in this area.