Effect of Subcutaneous Enoxaparin Injection Duration on Site-Pain Intensity in Acute Coronary Syndrome Patients Hospitalized in CCU Afshar Hospital, Yazd, 2011

Introduction: Enoxaparin is widely used in acute coronary syndrome patients to prevent progression of coronary artery disease. Pain of injection site is the unpleasant result of subcutaneous Enoxaparin injection which causes the patient physical discomfort. One of the nurses’ tasks is applying techniques which cause the reduction of damage to the patient. This clinical trial study investigates the effect of injection duration of subcutaneous Enoxaparin on site-pain intensity in acute coronary syndrome patients hospitalized in Coronary Care Unit. Methods: Seventy 30-75 year-old acute coronary syndrome patients hospitalized in coronary care unit were selected randomly. Enoxaparin was injected randomly to either right or left side of abdomen with a 12-hour interval during 10 seconds and 30 seconds. In order to assess the site pain intensity, visual analog scale (VAS) was used before and immediately after injection. Data analysis was done by descriptive statistics and non-parametric tests. Results: Results indicated that mean of pain intensity before 10 seconds is 0.78±4.93, after 10 seconds is 15.95±19.43; before 30 seconds is 0.64±3.79 and after 30 seconds is 8.08±12.91. Thus, 30 second duration of injection resulted in significant less pain intensity (P=0.000). There was no relationship between pain and sex, age and educational level. Conclusion: According to the study results, increasing injection duration of subcutaneous Enoxaparin to 30 seconds reduces the site pain intensity