The effect of cold needle on the development of pain and ecchymosis in subcutaneous heparin injection in adults: a prospective, randomised controlled study.

BACKGROUND

Subcutaneous injection is a practice frequently used by nurses and may result in complications.

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of cold needle on pain, injection satisfaction and ecchymosis development in subcutaneous heparin injection.

METHODS

The study was conducted as a prospective, parallel-group, randomised controlled study with single-blind design. Participants were randomly divided into two groups as chilled needle group (n = 30) and control group (standard needle group) (n = 30). Subcutaneous injections were given to the intervention group with a chilled needle at 0-2 °C and to the control group with a needle stored at room temperature. Patients were evaluated for ecchymosis for 72 h. Post-procedure pain and satisfaction levels were analysed. The Descriptive Characteristics Information Form, Visual Analogue Scale, Patient Satisfaction Form for Injection and Ecchymosis Follow-up Chart were used to collect the data.

RESULTS

The intervention group had significantly lower pain scores, compared to the control group (21.00 ± 14.46 vs. 33.00 ± 18.03). In addition, the mean injection satisfaction score of the intervention group (86.33 ± 11.29) was significantly higher than the control group (73.00 ± 17.04). In terms of ecchymosis development, higher rates of ecchymosis formation were observed in the control group, compared to the intervention group.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings support that the cooled needle in subcutaneous injection has the potential to reduce pain, increase injection satisfaction and prevent the development of ecchymosis.