ShotBlocker, Cold Needling, and Both Methods in Combination Pain and Satisfaction

In parallel with the changes and developments in the healthcare field worldwide and in Türkiye, it is crucial that nursing practices are based on scientific knowledge and are evidence-based. Nurses must integrate the most up-to-date information into their practices in patient care. Medication administration, a fundamental element of medical treatment, is among nurses' legal responsibilities and requires great professional care and meticulousness. Medication administration is performed by nurses through various routes, including parenteral, topical, inhalation, and oral administration.

Intramuscular injection is a parenteral drug administration method, administering the medication deep into muscle tissue. It is frequently used in clinical practice. It is a riskier procedure than other injection methods, so it should be performed by professionals.

Intramuscular injections can lead to serious complications if the correct technique is not used. These complications include nerve damage, vascular or tissue damage, infection, abscess, hematoma, tissue necrosis, muscle stiffness, tingling, and the rare Nicolau syndrome. The most common complication is pain during the injection. In one study, participants underwent intravenous, intramuscular, and spinal injections, and when pain levels were compared, it was determined that the highest pain level was felt during the intramuscular injection. This result suggests that intramuscular injections may cause more pain compared to other injection types. Reducing the pain felt due to needle insertion during intramuscular injection alleviates individuals' anxiety and fears about the procedure and contributes to an increase in their satisfaction with the injection procedure. There are studies on the level of satisfaction with intramuscular injection procedures. These are: Techniques such as acupressure , ShotBlocker , cold needling , helfer skin tap (HSTT) , and vibration stimulation have been found to increase patient satisfaction with the treatment. Pharmacological, non-pharmacological, and surgical techniques can be used to reduce pain. Firstly, the use of non-pharmacological methods to control pain is important. Accordingly, nurses utilize various nonpharmacological methods to reduce pain and increase patient comfort. Correct patient positioning, use of appropriate equipment, changing the needle tip after withdrawal, and applying the Z technique and the airlock technique for irritating medications are effective in reducing pain during intramuscular injections. Additionally, skin stimulation techniques such as massage, menthol application, ShotBlocker, vibration, hot-cold application, cold needle technique, Buzzy, TENS, manual pressure, and helfer skin tap, as well as cognitive methods such as listening to music, relaxation, and distraction are also helpful in relieving pain. According to Gate Control Theory, one of the theories used to reduce pain, mechanical stimuli such as touch or manual pressure activate large nerve fibers, blocking the pain signals carried by small fibers in the spinal cord. This prevents the brain from perceiving the pain signal. Manual pressure applied before the injection allows the release of natural pain-relieving hormones such as endorphins, which raises the pain threshold. It increases blood circulation, reduces the perception of pain, and promotes tissue healing. Thanks to these mechanisms, pain can be effectively reduced through non-pharmacological methods. Literature has shown that the helfer skin tap technique reduces pain in newborns, children, and adults. Internal rotation of the extremity during intramuscular injection has been found to be effective in reducing injection pain and relaxing muscles. Various clinical studies in different age groups have shown that Buzzy is effective in reducing pain during needle procedures. The ShotBlocker, with its ridged surface applied by pressing on the skin, helps reduce the perception of pain by providing a physical stimulus with its blunt tips during injection. Its mechanism of action is that the projections exert pressure on the skin by stimulating fast nerve endings, temporarily blocking slower pain signals. This method reduces pain. Studies on children and adults have found it effective in reducing pain. Studies on the use of cold application and cold spray have determined that these methods significantly reduce post-injection pain. Studies using the cold needle technique show that this method is effective in reducing pain felt during injections in both children and adults. This technique is implemented by cooling the syringe tip to 0-2°C before injection and aims to reduce the patient's perception of pain during the injection. A review of the literature reveals that many studies have been conducted using various methods to reduce pain during intramuscular injection. Studies comparing ShotBlocker with other methods are quite common. However, the number of studies on the cold needle technique is limited. Only one study has been found in the literature that evaluated the effects of ShotBlocker and cold needle methods on pain and satisfaction during injection.

This study is the first to compare the effects of ShotBlocker and cold needle methods on pain and satisfaction during intramuscular injection, and to examine the effects of using these two methods together on pain and satisfaction during intramuscular injection. The lack of any studies in the literature on the simultaneous use of these two methods makes this study scientifically original. In this context, the study will not only make an innovative contribution to existing knowledge but also have the potential to develop concrete and applicable solutions to increase patient satisfaction in nursing practice. It is believed that the data obtained regarding the combined use of these easy-to-implement, economical, and time-practical methods will make unique contributions to both clinical practice and the literature.