The effect of vibration stimulation on intramuscular injection pain and patient satisfaction: Single–blind, randomised controlled study
Berna Dinçer, Dilek Yıldırım
Abstract
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess the effect of vibration stimulation application in ventrogluteal region on intramuscular injection pain and patient satisfaction. BACKGROUND: Intramuscular injection pain caused distress for the patients and affected their compliance with the treatment. DESIGN: This was a prospective, single-blind, cross-over study. The study complied with the guidelines of Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT). METHODS: Eighty-four patients who applied to the adult emergency department received an intramuscular injection of amoxicillin\ cefuroxime sodium to the ventrogluteal site with and without vibration in a random order following a standard procedure by the same investigator. Pain and satisfaction were assessed immediately after the injection with Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), by a researcher blinded to the study. The data were evaluated using mean, standard deviation, percentage, Student's t-test, paired sample t-test, linear regression analysis and generalised linear mixed model. RESULTS: A total of 174 injections were analysed. The result of the study revealed that vibration decreased the severity of pain and increased the patient satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: Vibration is a non-pharmacologic approach, which can be effective in decreasing the injection pain and increasing patient satisfaction. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Intramuscular injection is the most frequently used nursing practice in the clinic. The use of vibration in decreasing pain due to intramuscular applications can help increase the self-confidence of nurses and the quality of the care they provide.