An experimental study to determine the effectiveness of blunt pressure technique on pain response among patients receiving intramuscular injection

Context: Pain is a universal phenomenon. It is considered to be the “fifth vital sign.” Pain originating from intramuscular (IM) injection should not be underestimated, because a painful injection might incite severe fear of injection, which may delay the patient seeking medical help. Aims: This study was intended to determine the effectiveness of blunt pressure technique on pain response among subjects receiving IM injection. Settings and Design: Using Quantitative approach, randomized controlled trial with posttest only design was undertaken for 6 a period of 6 weeks in a tertiary care centre. Materials and Methods: Patients receiving IM injection in the injection room were selected using consecutive sampling technique. The individuals were randomly allocated to control and experimental arm using computer generated random number table in the sealed envelope. Patients with infectious skin diseases, bleeding disorder, trauma and injury, cognitive impairment were excluded from the study. Control arm received injection using standard technique and experimental arm received injection using blunt pressure technique with the operation protocol. Numerical pain rating scale was used to collect the data. Statistical Analysis Used: Descriptive statistics was used to describe the data. Mann–Whitney U-test and Kruskal–Wallis test were used to infer the data. Results: The mean pain response in the standard technique was 3.15 ± 1.44 and in the blunt pressure technique was 1.01 ± 0.98. The difference in pain response was found to be statistically significant (P