A Study to Assess the Effectiveness of Local Cold Application Prior to Intramuscular Injection for Reducing Needle Stick Pain among the Patients in Selected Hospitals at Amritsar

INTRODUCTION: Pain is highly unpleasant and very personal sensation. It is not just a physical feeling. It affects on one’s attitude and personality. The world is full of unexplained pain, has many possible causes. All persons either Infants or adults have pain during their life time from different reasons, it may be due to any injury or any infection. For the treatment of said causes they needs medical attention but always there is a fear of needle prick pain during intramuscular injection in there mind that leads to them to delay seek help. This is the main cause that people avoid to go nearby health care centers and hospital. But now days so many pharmacologic and non pharmacologic therapies are in practice in reducing intramuscular injection pain. One of them is local cold application , it is a simple procedure to reduce pain due to intramuscular injection. OBJECTIVES: The primary objective of the study is evaluate the effectiveness of local cold application among the patients receiving intramuscular injection for reducing the needle stick pain among the patients in selected hospitals at Amritsar. METHODS: A true experimental study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of local cold application prior to intramuscular injection to reduce the intensity of the pain. The study was carried out in Hargun Hospital and The Corporate Hospital Batala Road Amritsar The sample size consisted 60, 30 in control group and 30 in experimental group are selected from medical, surgical, emergency wards and antenatal clinic. Probability sampling simple random technique was used to select the sample. Cold application was applied for 5 seconds just prior to inserting the needle Standardized Numerical pain scale was used to assess the pain level. The obtain data was analyzed in the terms of the objectives of the study using descriptive and inferential statistics RESULTS: Analysis among Experimental group by using Non-paired “t” test found significant value 10.8 at p<0.05 level. To compare the pain level in both groups the control group mean (5.8) is higher than the experimental group (3.2), mean difference is 2.6, obtained “t” value is 10.8 significant at p<0.05 level. The ice application had effect on reducing the pain during intramuscular injection. CONCLUSION: Cold application is effective on reducing the pain associated with intramuscular injection.