Improving Providers’ and Medical Assistants’ Knowledge of Buzzy®: A Quality Improvement Project

Abstract

Background: Improvement in vaccine technology and expansion of worldwide resources have been among the most effective strategies in protecting children and adults against disease (Saman et al., 2023). In the last five years, the number of fully vaccinated children in kindergarten programs in the United States (US) has fallen to under 93%, which is below coverage levels of the past decade (Williams & Kates, 2024). This downward trend has significantly increased the risk of preventable deaths from non-vaccine compliance. Purpose: The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) quality improvement (QI) project was to increase providers’ and medical assistants’ perceived knowledge of the pain mitigation device, Buzzy®, and to measure the staff’s intent to change practice and offer Buzzy®. Methods: This quality improvement (QI) project used a quantitative pre- and post-educational assessment design. Multiple-choice survey questions were given before and after the Prezi educational presentation for pediatric primary care providers and medical support staff at Agave Pediatrics – Deer Valley location. The post-educational assessment examined the impact of education on providers’ perceived knowledge and intent to change practice. Results: Perceived knowledge of pain mitigation and the intent to modify practice by offering Buzzy® demonstrated an increase after the educational presentation. Conclusions: Providers and medical assistants reported increased perceived knowledge about pain mitigation for vaccinations and expressed an intention to change their practice. This demonstrated a sustainable opportunity to provide further continuing education to staff to increase perceived knowledge and comfort levels with the Buzzy® device.