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

Objective: Peripheral venous catheterization (PVC) is one of the most common and invasive procedures performed in the emergency department (ED). The use of technologies to improve efficiency and reduce pain is important. This study aimed to reveal the effect of an infrared vein finder (IVF) on pain and fear of pain (FOP) during PVC.
Material and Methods: This prospective randomized study was conducted with 200 patients who underwent PVC at the ED. The patients were randomized into two groups: IVF and control groups. PVC was applied to the control group using the conventional method. In the IVF group before PVC, patients were informed about IVF devices and PVC performed using them. The fear of pain-3 questionnaire (FPQ-3) before the procedure and the numerical pain scale (NRS) after the procedure were applied for both groups. FPQ-3, NRS scores, and PVC success rates were analyzed.
Results: Two hundred patients participated in the study. The 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 and 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 a 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 the IVF group.
Conclusion: Although the use of IVF for venous catheterization reduces the FOP in adults but does not reduce pain and severe pain fear, it only reduces the fear of minor pain and does not affect the success of the procedure.

Keywords: Pain, fear of pain, vein, catheterization, infrared vein finder