The Effect of Infrared Vein Finder on Fear of Pain During Peripheral Venous Catheterization at The Emergency Department

INTRODUCTION: Peripheral venous catheterization (PVC) is one of the most common and invasive procedure in the Emergency Department (ED). The use of technologies to improve efficiency and reduce pain is important. This study aims to reveal the effect of infrared vein finder on pain and fear of pain during PVC.
METHODS: This prospective randomized study was conducted with 200 patients who underwent for PVC at emergency department. The patients were randomized into two groups as infrared vein finder (IVF) and control group. PVC was applied to the control group with the conventional method. In IVF group before PVC, patient informed about IVF devices and PVC performed with it. Fear of Pain-3 questionnaire (FPQ-3) before the procedure and numerical pain scale (NRS) after the procedure were applied for both groups. FPQ-3, NRS scores, PVC success rates were analyzed.
RESULTS: Two hundred patients participated to study. Mean age was, 33.3±11.2 for IVF and 32.5±10.2 for control group. The success rate in the first attempt was 92% (n=92) in the IVF group, 97% (n=97) in the control group (p=0.121). The mean total scores were; 78.8±21.5 8 in the IVF group and 85.8 ±22.0 in the control group (p=0.025). The groups were compared in terms of severe pain, minor pain, and medical pain scores, and there was only difference in minor pain scores (p=0.021). The mean NRS score in the IVF group was 2.56±1.25, control group was 2.94±1.58 (p=0.121). The correlations between NRS and subgroups were; “severe pain” (r=0.407, p<0.001), “Minor pain” (r=0.534, p<0.001) and “Medical pain” scores (r=0.390, p<0.001) in IVF group.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Although use of IVF for venous catherization reduces the fear of pain in adults but not reduce pain and severe pain fear, it only reduces the fear of minor pain and not affect the success of the procedure.