Assessing parents' uptake of evidence-based vaccination pain management strategies and confidence using an electronic knowledge translation tool

Parent-directed knowledge translation (KT) resources for children's vaccination pain management may increase the use of research-based strategies to reduce pain. An electronic, research-based KT resource to inform parents about vaccination pain management was created in partnership with a parenting magazine. While the resource had a wide reach, its effect on parents' use of research-based strategy is unknown. The goals of this research study were to explore the relationship between parents' plans to use strategies from the electronic KT resource and their actual use at their child's vaccination, as well as their confidence in using the strategies. Parents of children aged 0 to 17 years took part in the survey and learned about the study through social media and e-newsletters. Parents read the electronic KT resource and completed an online survey, including the Information Assessment Method for Parents questionnaire to evaluate their opinions on the KT resource. Parents also answered questions about their attitudes towards pain management, use of strategies to manage pain, and their confidence in doing so before their child's vaccination and again after. 128 parents completed both surveys. Most parents planned to use the KT resource and felt confident using the information. When parents felt confident in their ability to use the strategies after reading about them, they were more likely to use the strategies during their child's vaccination and planned to continue using them. These findings show the importance of providing parents with strategies which they can access electronically so that they can feel confident in managing their children's vaccination pain and use strategies regularly to reduce pain and increase adherence to vaccine schedules.