Buzzy and TickleFlex in Reducing Insulin Injection Pain and Fear

Hakkari Universitesi

Status: Invitation-only

Conditions: Diabete Type 1; Diabetes in Children

Treatments: Other: None (Routine Care); Device: Buzzy; Device: TickleFlex

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07239700

HakkariU-SHMYO-NA-01

Details and patient eligibility

About

This interventional randomized controlled clinical trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of two nonpharmacological devices, Buzzy and TickleFlex, in reducing pain and fear associated with insulin injections among children with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM).

A total of 90 participants aged 6 to 12 years will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: Buzzy, TickleFlex, or control. The Buzzy device provides combined cold and vibration stimulation near the injection site to decrease pain perception based on the gate control theory, while the TickleFlex device is a soft, flexible attachment for insulin pens designed to minimize needle pressure and discomfort during injection.

Pain and fear will be assessed immediately before and after a single insulin injection using validated instruments, including the Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale and the Children's Fear Scale (CFS), rated independently by the child, parent, and researcher.

It is hypothesized that both Buzzy and TickleFlex applications will significantly reduce pain and fear compared to standard insulin injection without intervention. The study is expected to provide evidence supporting the use of nonpharmacological methods in pediatric diabetes care to improve children's comfort and treatment adherence.

Full description

Children with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) require multiple daily insulin injections, which are often associated with pain, fear, and anxiety. Repeated exposure to needle-related discomfort can negatively affect children's treatment adherence, emotional well-being, and overall quality of life. Therefore, there is a growing need for safe, practical, and nonpharmacological interventions to improve the injection experience in pediatric diabetes care.

This randomized controlled trial aims to investigate the effectiveness of two noninvasive devices-Buzzy and TickleFlex-in reducing pain and fear during insulin injections in children with T1DM. The Buzzy device uses vibration and cold stimulation to reduce pain perception through the gate control mechanism, while the TickleFlex device, a soft and flexible attachment for insulin pens, minimizes needle pressure and distributes the injection sensation evenly.

A total of 90 children aged 6-12 years will be randomly assigned to three groups: Buzzy, TickleFlex, and control. All participants will receive a single subcutaneous insulin injection as part of their regular diabetes management. Pain and fear levels will be measured before and immediately after the injection using validated scales: the Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale and the Children's Fear Scale (CFS), rated independently by the child, parent, and researcher.

It is hypothesized that both Buzzy and TickleFlex will significantly reduce perceived pain and fear compared with standard insulin injection without intervention. Findings from this study are expected to contribute to evidence-based pediatric nursing practices by supporting the integration of nonpharmacological pain management methods into routine diabetes care.

Enrollment: 90 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 6 to 12 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Children aged 6 to 12 years.
• Diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) for at least 6 months.
• Receiving daily subcutaneous insulin injections as part of routine diabetes management.
• Able to understand and communicate pain and fear levels using the Wong-Baker -FACES Pain Rating Scale and the Children's Fear Scale.
• Accompanied by a parent or legal guardian who can provide informed consent.
• Willingness of both the child and parent to participate in the study.
• No visual, auditory, or cognitive impairments that would interfere with data collection.

Exclusion criteria

• Presence of neurological, sensory, or cognitive disorders that may affect pain or fear perception.
• Peripheral neuropathy or other diabetic complications influencing pain sensation.
• Use of analgesics, sedatives, or anxiolytic medications within 24 hours prior to data collection.
• Local skin lesions, infections, or allergies at or near the insulin injection site.
• History of needle phobia or severe anxiety disorders diagnosed by a healthcare professional.
• Concurrent participation in another interventional clinical study.
• Refusal or inability of the child or parent/guardian to provide written informed consent.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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90 participants in 3 patient groups

Buzzy Device Application

Experimental group

Description:

Participants received vibration and cold stimulation using the Buzzy device before and during insulin injection.

Treatment:

Device: Buzzy

TickleFlex Device Application

Experimental group

Description:

Participants used the TickleFlex device attached to their insulin pens during insulin injection.

Treatment:

Device: TickleFlex

Standard Insulin Injection (Control)

Other group

Description:

Participants received routine insulin injections without any adjunctive device or intervention.

Treatment:

Other: None (Routine Care)