Effectiveness of Thumb Manual Pressure on Pain, Bruising and Satisfaction Associated with Anticoagulant Subcutaneous Injection.

Mahmoud Mohammad Elrefaey, Noura; A. Hamed, Laila; Mohamed Elsayed, Suzan

doi:10.21608/ejhc.2023.297307

Effectiveness of Thumb Manual Pressure on Pain, Bruising and Satisfaction Associated with Anticoagulant Subcutaneous Injection.

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Lecturer of Medical-Surgical Nursing, Faculty of Nursing- Matrouh University

² Assistant professor of Medical-Surgical Nursing, Faculty of Nursing - Zagazig University.

³ Lecturer of Medical-Surgical Nursing, Faculty of Nursing - Zagazig University

10.21608/ejhc.2023.297307

Abstract

Anticoagulant medications help prevent thromboembolisms, and improve health. The most
common negative consequences of anticoagulant injection are pain, bruising that affect
negatively on patient satisfaction. Non pharmacological methods to decrease such consequences
had a great attention. Aim of the study: Explore the effectiveness of thumb manual pressure
application on anticoagulant subcutaneous injection pain, bruising, and satisfaction experienced
compared to routine SCI. Study design: A quasi-experimental nonequivalent one-group self-
controlled design was used. Setting: the study applied in the orthopedic Surgery department at
New-surgery hospital of Zagazig University hospitals. Subjects: a convenience sample of a
single group from both males and females. It included 88 participants. Tools: Four tools were
used in this study. The same participants were both in control and intervention. The same nurse
applied a subcutaneous injection into the upper outer Lt arm followed by thumb pressure for 10
seconds as an intervention group. Whereas, the routine SCI in the upper outer Rt arm was
injected in the same patient by the same nurse and considered as a control group. Pain level,
bruising and patient satisfaction were assessed. Results: there was a statistical significance
difference in the pain level, bruising and satisfaction, explored via less pain intensity, minor
bruising and high satisfaction level where thumb manual pressure applied over the left arm SC
anticoagulant injection. Conclusion: manual pressure application is a more effective method in
reducing pain, bruising and increasing satisfaction level due to subcutaneous injection. Thus
using such non-pharmacological methods was effective

Keywords