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Using pressure to decrease the pain of intramuscular injections

B J Barnhill1, M D Holbert, N M Jackson

  • 1Medford School District, Jackson County Department of Health and Human Services, Medford, Oregon, USA.

Journal of Pain and Symptom Management
|July 1, 1996
PubMed
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Applying manual pressure before intramuscular injections significantly reduces injection pain. This simple technique, supported by the gate control theory, offers a practical method for pain management during vaccinations and other injections.

Area of Science:

  • Pain Management
  • Clinical Nursing
  • Immunization Practices

Background:

  • Intramuscular injections can cause significant pain.
  • The gate control theory of pain suggests that non-painful stimuli can reduce pain perception.
  • Anecdotal evidence proposed pressure application as a pain-reducing method.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the efficacy of pre-injection manual pressure in reducing pain intensity.
  • To evaluate a simple, non-pharmacological intervention for injection pain.

Main Methods:

  • A randomized controlled trial involving 93 patients receiving dorsogluteal intramuscular injections.
  • The experimental group received 10 seconds of manual pressure prior to injection.
  • The control group received a standard injection without pre-application pressure.

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Main Results:

  • The experimental group reported a mean pain intensity of 13.6 mm on a visual analogue scale.
  • The control group reported a mean pain intensity of 21.5 mm.
  • The difference in pain intensity was statistically significant (P = 0.03).

Conclusions:

  • Pre-injection manual pressure is an effective technique for reducing pain associated with intramuscular injections.
  • This simple intervention can improve patient comfort during medical procedures.
  • The findings support the application of gate control theory principles in clinical practice.