The effect of acupressure at the Gall Bladder 31 acupuncture point on vaccine-induced pain in infants: A randomized placebo-controlled trial.

AIM: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of acupressure applied at the Gall Bladder 31 (GB31) acupuncture point in reducing vaccine-induced pain in infants. Although the GB31 point, located in the lateral femoral region where vaccines are commonly administered, is thought to reduce pain, research on its use in infants remains limited.

METHOD: A randomized, placebo-controlled trial was conducted with 105 infants. The study compared the effects of acupressure, placebo, and control interventions on vaccination-related pain by assessing heart rate, oxygen saturation (SpO₂), FLACC pain scale scores, and crying duration.

RESULTS

After vaccination, the mean heart rate was significantly lower in the acupressure group compared with the placebo and control groups, while mean oxygen saturation was significantly higher. Infants in the acupressure group also demonstrated lower FLACC pain scores (2.28 ± 1.65 vs. 3.89 ± 2.19 and 4.08 ± 2.01; p < 0.01) and shorter crying durations (24.94 ± 24.99 s vs. 41.00 ± 24.84 s and 45.42 ± 21.99 s; p < 0.05) than those in the placebo and control groups.

CONCLUSION

Acupressure at the GB31 point administered prior to vaccination significantly reduced acute pain, lowered heart rate, improved oxygen saturation, and shortened crying time in infants. As an easy-to-learn, noninvasive technique, acupressure can be recommended for nurses as an effective method to manage vaccination pain in infants.