Feasibility of implementation of CARD™ for school-based immunizations in Calgary, Alberta: a cluster trial

BMC Public Health

Table 2 Characteristics of students and immunizations, student symptoms and coping strategies used

Variables	CARD™ (n = 88)*	Control (n = 108)*
Characteristics
No. of females	40 (45.5)	50 (47.2)^a
Mean number of injections	1.7 (0.8)	1.7 (1.2)
Student symptoms†
Mean fear score	2.0 (2.1)	3.2 (3.4)^b
Mean pain score	3 (1.9)	3.9 (2.5)^b
Mean dizziness score	0.5 (1.1)	0.9 (1.8)^b
Coping strategies used‡
Verbal distraction	12 (14)^c	82 (87)^b
External distraction/object	21 (24)	38 (36)^b
Deep breathing	8 (9)^c	40 (37)^b
Peer support	2 (2)	3 (3)^b
School staff support person	2 (2)	1 (1)^b
Nurse support person	1 (1)	4 (4)^b
Topical anesthetic	0 (0)	0 (0)^b
Privacy	1 (1)	0 (0)^b
Lying down	0 (0)	1 (1)^b
Muscle tension	2 (2)	14 (13)^b

Values are frequency (percent) or mean (standard deviation)
* Data obtained from nurse feedback form and student symptom survey; n = 2 missing in CARD™ group and n = 21 missing in control group
† measured by student self-report on a 0–10 scale with higher values indicating higher severity
‡ measured by immunizing nurse as present/used or absent/not used during immunization
^a n = 106; ^b n = 107; ^c n=87

ISSN: 1471-2458