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A comparison of lancets and evaluation of various manoeuvres in reducing finger prick pain during pre‐donation haemoglobin estimation
Author(s) -
Dubey A.,
Sonker A.,
Agarwal P.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
transfusion medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.471
H-Index - 59
eISSN - 1365-3148
pISSN - 0958-7578
DOI - 10.1111/tme.12599
Subject(s) - medicine , physical therapy , anxiety , pain score , surgery , anesthesia , psychiatry
Summary Objectives Three different types of lancets have been compared to identify and implement the one that causes the least pain. Simple manoeuvres during the lancing procedure have been evaluated to determine their effectiveness in reducing the intensity of perceived pain. Background Pre‐donation haemoglobin estimation is performed by pricking the donor's finger with a lancet. Pain associated with the procedure causes fear and anxiety, which dissuades the donors from donating blood. Methods In 100 subjects, finger prick was performed using three different lancets, and the subjects were asked to score their pain on a numerical rating scale (NRS). A further 150 blood donors were subjected to routine finger pricking for Hb estimation and were asked to score their pain on an NRS. After 15 min, they underwent a second prick with application of a manoeuvre (breath holding, coughing trick or looking away) and again marked their pain scores on the NRS. Results Participants reported the least pain scores with lancing devices that have a spring mechanism to retract the lancets soon after penetration into the skin. Breath holding and the cough trick manoeuvre reduced the perceived pain scores significantly. Conclusion Lancing devices merit consideration for routine use, and a simple manoeuvre may be applied to reduce perceived pain.