Effect of Cold Compresses on Pain Intensity and Ecchymosis Among Patients Receiving Subcutaneous Anticoagulant Injection

Abstract

Background : Subcutaneous anticoagulant injection frequently result in pain, swelling, and bruising at the injection site. Cold compresses are a pain-relieving treatment that works by lowering catecholamine levels, raising endorphin levels, and delaying pain signal transmission to the central nervous system. Aim of the study: To evaluate the effect of cold compresses on pain intensity and ecchymosis among patients receiving a subcutaneous anticoagulant injection. Design : A quasi-experimental research design (study/control group) was utilized. Setting : The research was carried out at Benha University Hospital's Cardiac Care Unit. Participants: A six-month purposive sample of cardiac care unit patients who were treated with subcutaneous anticoagulants (from the beginning of febreuary2021 to the end of July 2021). Tools for gathering data include: Tool I Patient Assessment Tool, Tool Bruising Category Scale, Tool Visual Analogue Pain Rating Scale, and Tool IV Ecchymosis Education Scale are some of the tools used to assess patients. Results : The difference in pain intensity between the study and control groups was highly statistically significant at a p-value of 0.000, with more than half of the control group suffering bruising at the injection site, compared to less than a quarter of the study group. In terms of ecchymosis, more than half of the study group had no ecchymosis, compared to less than a quarter of the control group. Conclusion: Based on the data, it can be concluded that applying cold compresses to the study group reduced pain intensity, bruising, and ecchymosis formation more effectively than in the control group. . Recommendations: To generalize the findings more broadly, the study could be done with bigger sample size.