Historically, medical practitioners believed that children did not perceive pain or could not feel as much of it. Now, it is evident through research that this was an inaccurate assumption. Fear, anxiety, and avoidance present with improper pain management, leading to various health consequences across the lifespan. Implementation of booster vaccinations in the 1990s produced a substantial spike in needle fear. This fear has created national, international, and local campaigns to mitigate pain and encourage vaccination schedule adherence. Traumatic needle experiences are directly correlated to apathetic healthcare environments. The primary objective was to evaluate Poke Plans’ utilization rate of implementing evidence-based strategies to reduce pain and distress among pediatric patients within a county-owned vaccination clinic.
