The Effects of Nursing Intervention on Pain Control during Chemoport Needle Insertion

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of various anesthetic methods to the level of pain felt by cancer patients during Chemoport needle insertion. The anesthetics evaluated were a topically-applied anesthetic cream (Lidocaine Cream), cryotherapy, and cutaneous stimulation. This study was based on non-equivalent control group design, A total of 120 subjects participated in the study; 90 subjects were included in the experimental group (application of Lidocaine cream, cryotherapy, and cutaneous stimulation) while 30 subjects were included in the control group. The hypothesis was tested through one-way ANOVA, while Duncan’s Multiple Range Test was used for post-hoc comparison. Hypothesis I presumed that, “When the Chemoport needle is inserted to the patients, there will be a significant difference in pain scores between the experimental group (Lidocaine cream group, cryotherapy group, and cutaneous stimulation group) and control group (without anesthetics).” According to the results, the Hypothesis I was validated with the following results: subjective pain score: F=26.76, p<.000; and objective pain score: F=17.00, p<.000. With this result, a post-hoc assessment was made through Duncan’s Multiple Range Test. Based from the result, the pain scores (subjective and objective scores) were significantly lower than the scores derived from the control group. The patients’ level of pain decreased depending on the anesthetic method used according to this order or ranking: Lidocaine cream group, cryotherapy group, and cutaneous stimulation group. According to the results, all anesthetic methods (i.e., application of Lidocaine Cream, cryotherapy, and cutaneous stimulation) applied before Chemoport needle insertion were effective in reducing the patients’ level of pain. In summary, all of the three anesthetic methods evaluated in this study reduced the cancer patients’ level of pain during Chemoport needle insertion. Therefore, it is expected that the three intervention measures (application of Lidocaine Cream, cryotherapy, and cutaneous stimulation) can contribute to the effective management of pain and anxiety during Chemoport needle insertion in the clinical setting (but still depending on the particular subject and other hospital factors).