Effectiveness of Buzzy on Pain and Anxiety in Children and Adolescents Undergoing Needle Procedures: A Meta-Analysis.
Luigi Apuzzo, Francesco Burrai, Sonia Sellami et al.
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review and meta-analysis assessed cold vibration delivered by the Buzzy device for pain and anxiety during venipuncture or injection in children and adolescents. It included 16 randomized controlled trials with 1486 patients, identified through searches of six databases in January 2025. Compared with control, Buzzy significantly reduced pain (SMD -1.06, 95% confidence interval [-1.39, -0.72], P < .00001) and anxiety (SMD -1.60, 95% confidence interval [-2.70, -0.51], P = .004). The recommendation direction favored Buzzy, but its strength was rated weak.
Key findings
- Across 16 randomized controlled trials involving 1486 patients, Buzzy reduced pain versus control (SMD -1.06, 95% confidence interval [-1.39, -0.72], P < .00001).
- Anxiety was lower with Buzzy than control (SMD -1.60, 95% confidence interval [-2.70, -0.51], P = .004).
- The recommendation direction favored Buzzy, while the strength of recommendation was rated weak.
Why it matters
Needle procedures can involve pain and anxiety for pediatric patients. This synthesis indicates that cold vibration may help reduce both outcomes, offering evidence for a non-pharmacological approach during venipuncture or injection. The weak recommendation rating is important context: the pooled results are favorable, but the authors’ assessment does not support treating the intervention as a strongly established recommendation.
What to keep in mind
The recommendation was rated weak, indicating limited strength of the evidence-based recommendation.