Impact of a Parent-Directed Pamphlet About Pain Management During Infant Vaccinations on Maternal Knowledge and Behavior

Purpose: To evaluate the impact of a parent-directed instructional pamphlet about managing pain during infant vaccinations.

Design and Sample: New mothers hospitalized following birth of an infant at two hospitals participated in a “before-and-after” study. In the “after” phase, the pamphlet was passively inserted in discharge packages at the intervention hospital.

Main Outcomes: Maternal knowledge and self-reported use of pain-management interventions during routine infant two-month vaccinations.

Results: Altogether, 354 mothers participated. A two-way (site, phase) ANOVA revealed no interaction (site 3 phase) in knowledge or use of pain-management strategies after routine two-month infant vaccinations; hence, there was no evidence of a benefit provided by the pamphlet. However, within the intervention site, only 21 percent of mothers read the pamphlet. Reading the pamphlet was associated with higher knowledge. This suggests some possible benefits of the pamphlet, provided that mothers read it.