Evaluating pain reduction interventions during blood  donation: A randomised controlled trial:

Siwatus  Puangrab; Auemphon  Mordmuang; Weeratian Tawanwongsri

Siwatus Puangrab Department of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand
Auemphon Mordmuang Department of Medical Science, School of Medicine, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand
Weeratian Tawanwongsri Division of Dermatology, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand

Keywords: blood donation, pain prevention, needles, adult, pain assessment, blood transfusion, pre-venipuncture pain

Abstract

Background: Blood shortages for transfusions are often associated with potential donors’ fear of pain from large-bore needles, which may deter them from donating.
Objective: This study evaluated the effectiveness and satisfaction of topical anaesthetics, cooling sprays, and audiovisual distractions in reducing needle-induced pain during blood donation.
Methods: This randomised controlled study (August 2023 – January 2024) investigated methods to alleviate pain during blood donation and was registered with the Thai Clinical Trials Registry (TCTR20230324007). Forty-eight eligible participants were recruited via convenience sampling and randomly assigned to one of four groups: control, topical anaesthetic, cooling spray, or audiovisual distraction. All procedures involved 16-gauge needle insertion. Pain was assessed immediately after needle insertion and blood collection using a 10-point numeric rating scale, while satisfaction was measured using a 4-point Likert scale. Participants met standard blood donation eligibility criteria. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, one-way ANOVA, and multivariate linear regression to determine intervention effects on pain scores.
Results: The final analysis incorporated all 48 subjects, with 12 individuals in each of the four groups. The mean age of participants was 30.73 years (SD = 11.83), and females comprised the majority of the sample (54.16%). Mean pain scores during needle insertion were 3.25 (SD = 1.21), 2.83 (SD = 1.11), 2.67 (SD = 1.61), and 3.00 (SD = 2.22) (p = 0.960) for Groups A through D, respectively. Compared with the control, regression analyses of audiovisual distraction showed small differences that were not statistically significant (e.g., audiovisual
distraction: β = 0.78, 95% CI 1.01 to 2.58). During blood withdrawal, mean pain scores were 1.67 (SD = 1.19), 1.67 (SD = 0.83), 1.58 (SD = 1.51), and 1.25 (SD = 0.62) (p = 0.892). Similarly, regression analyses showed no significant intervention effects (audiovisual distraction vs. control: β = 0.79, 95% CI 0.50 to 2.08). Multivariate analyses revealed no significant effects of the intervention methods, demographic factors, prior blood procedure experience, or body mass index on pain scores.
Conclusion: Although pain-reduction interventions showed a trend toward lowering pain, the differences were not statistically significant. Given the variability in pain perception, larger multicentre studies are needed to confirm these findings.