Patient experience between vibration and coughing techniques during subcutaneous insulin injection on pain severity and individual satisfaction: Randomized controlled trial.

Background: Diabetes mellitus represents a chronic illness distinguished by sustained elevations in blood glucose concentrations, and it ranks as the sixth foremost cause of mortality globally.

Materials and methods: This randomized controlled experimental study was conducted consisted of 105 patients divided into three groups (36 vibration group, 38 coughing technique group, and 31 control group) who applied subcutaneous insulin injections in hospitalized adults' patients with type 2 diabetes between September 2024 and January 2025 to examine the effect of the coughing technique and vibration device on the intensity of pain and the degree of patient satisfaction during the administration of subcutaneous insulin injections. The study data were collected using the Structured Information Form, VAS for Pain, and VAS for Satisfaction. The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics (Chi-square tests).

Results: The age of the participants included in this study ranged between 18 years and older with a mean age of (51.61 ± 15.048) years and females accounted for 62.1% of total study participants. The highest group of the study population has finished their primary graduate degree (30.7%).

Conclusions: Consort statement was followed for reporting. After the subcutaneous insulin injections, a significant difference was found between the groups in terms of the mean scores of VAS for Pain and VAS for Injection Satisfaction (P < 0.001). It was determined that local vibration application was more effective in reducing the pain and in increasing satisfaction that occurs during subcutaneous insulin injections according to the coughing technique groups and control groups.