Therapeutic Touch for Intramuscular Injection Pain

Kilis 7 Aralik University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Therapeutic Adherence and Compliance

Treatments: Behavioral: Supportive Hand-Holding

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07673757

E.45023

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of therapeutic touch on pain intensity associated with intramuscular injection and to examine the relationship between fear of pain and injection-related pain. Participants are assigned to either a therapeutic touch group or a control group. Pain intensity is assessed using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and fear of pain is assessed using the Fear of Pain Questionnaire.

Enrollment: 60 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 60 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Being between 18 and 60 years of age,
• Being literate,
• Being able to complete the Fear of Pain Questionnaire (FPQ) without missing items,
• Having no known allergy or contraindication to pheniramine hydrogen maleate,
• Not having lower respiratory tract disease/asthma and not being in pregnancy or lactation period,
• Having normal consciousness (adequate orientation and ability to follow commands),
• Not having a severe mood disorder.

Exclusion criteria

• Incomplete completion of the questionnaire/scale during the study,
• Having medical conditions that may affect pain perception, such as peripheral vascular disease, peripheral neuropathy, or diabetes.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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60 participants in 2 patient groups

Experimental: Therapeutic Touch

Experimental group

Description:

In the intervention group, a supportive touch intervention was applied during the intramuscular injection to provide emotional support to the patient. Immediately before the injection, the researcher demonstrated the procedure to the patient's companion with a brief example and provided guidance on how the hand should be held. During the injection, the companion held the patient's hand with both hands, offering a calm, silent, and supportive presence. Throughout this process, the nurse was responsible only for administering the intramuscular injection and ensuring clinical safety; the nurse did not participate in the intervention. After the injection was completed, the patient's pain level was assessed using the VAS scale based on self-report.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Supportive Hand-Holding

Control Group

No Intervention group

Description:

Participants in this group received no additional intervention; the intramuscular injection was administered in accordance with routine clinical practice. After the injection was completed, the patient's pain level was assessed using the same VAS scale based on self-report, as in the intervention group.