Topical Refrigerant Spray for IVs: Patient/Provider Responses - Prospective, Double-blind, Randomized Study

Painful procedures are common. Patients prefer analgesia for painful procedures. Studies indicate that use of a topical refrigerant spray (TRS) prior to needlestick procedures decreases needlestick pain. TRS is easy to apply, inexpensive, has fast onset, and avoids needlestick pain and anxiety, and needlestick injury risk. Patient and health care provider (HCP) acceptance of any technique is essential before it is adopted. This study evaluated the decrease in pain with TRS and the patient and HCP satisfaction and acceptance of TRS for peripheral intravenous (PIV) placement. Adults (N = 300) randomized to placebo or TRS and HCPs (N = 300) placing PIVs answered questionnaires. Patients had significantly less pain than with prior PIVs, and were satisfied with and would use TRS in the future (P < 0.001). HCP felt that patients had significantly (P < 0.001) less pain with TRS than the placebo, and were satisfied with the TRS, and would use TRS in the future.Registered at Clinicaltrials.gov NCT01670487.