Effectiveness of Music Therapy on Pain Management during Intramuscular Vaccines in Toddlers at Immunization Rooms

Abstract Background: Hospitalization is a stressful and painful environment for toddlers. They have to undergo various invasive procedures. Vaccination is most common and inevitable. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of music therapy for pain management during toddlers’ intramuscular vaccinations. Materials and Methods: A quasi-experimental posttest-only control design was adopted for this study. The study was conducted in the immunization room of two community health centers. A total of 60 toddlers were included: 30 in the intervention group and 30 in the conventional group. A purposive sampling technique was used. Data were collected using a demographic profile, and pain was observed by standardized instrument FLACC scale. In the intervention group, a musical toy was presented before, during, and after the vaccination procedure for approximately 5–7 min. The conventional group followed routine procedures. Results: In the intervention group, 56.7% of toddlers experienced mild pain, whereas 43.3% experienced severe pain. In contrast, in the conventional group, 83.3% of toddlers experienced severe pain, and 16.7% experienced moderate pain. The intervention group had significantly lower pain scores than the conventional group, with a mean rank of 15.68 versus 45.32, and mean score of 3.43 ± 1.13 versus 7.67 ± 1.12. The Mann–Whitney test value was 5.50 ( P < 0.001). Hence, musical toy intervention was statistically significant in reducing pain during immunization in toddlers. Conclusion: Musical toys offer attractive auditory and visual stimulation for toddlers. In addition, these toys are safe, affordable, non-pharmacological distractions and significantly reduce pain scores.