“A COMPARATIVE STUDY TO EVALUATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF TOPICAL ANESTHETIC CREAM APPLICATION AND CRYOTHERAPY ON PAIN EXPERIENCING AMONG PATIENT UNDERGOING INTRAVENOUS CANNULATION IN SELECTED HOSPITAL AT PUDUKKOTTAI”.
Mrs. Megala Stephen MSN, RN
Comparative Study on Topical Anesthetic Cream vs Cryotherapy for Pain During Intravenous Cannulation
Abstract
Intravenous (IV) cannulation is one of the most commonly performed nursing procedures in hospitals. Although essential for administering medications and fluids, it often causes pain, discomfort, and anxiety among patients. Effective pain management during IV cannulation plays a vital role in improving patient comfort and satisfaction.
This comparative study evaluated the effectiveness of topical anesthetic cream and cryotherapy (ice pack application) in reducing pain experienced during intravenous cannulation among adult patients admitted to selected hospitals in Pudukkottai. A quasi-experimental research design was used with a total of 60 participants, divided equally into two intervention groups. One group received topical anesthetic cream before cannulation, while the other received cryotherapy prior to the procedure. Pain levels were measured using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) after intravenous cannulation.
The findings demonstrated that both interventions significantly reduced pain, but cryotherapy was more effective than topical anesthetic cream. Patients who received cryotherapy reported considerably lower pain scores, indicating that a simple, inexpensive, and non-pharmacological intervention can effectively minimize discomfort during IV cannulation.
The study concludes that cryotherapy is a safe, practical, and cost-effective technique that nurses can easily incorporate into routine clinical practice to improve patient comfort and enhance the quality of nursing care during intravenous cannulation.
Keywords
Intravenous Cannulation, Cryotherapy, Topical Anesthetic Cream, Lidocaine, Pain Management, Visual Analogue Scale, Nursing Research, Adult Patients, Non-Pharmacological Pain Relief, Evidence-Based Nursing Practice.