NCT05761340

The Effect of Helfer Skin Tap Technique During Tetanus Injection in Pregnant Women

The Effect of Helfer Skin Tap Technique on Pain Reduction and Hemodynamic Parameters During Tetanus Injection in Pregnant Women

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 65 (actual)
• Sponsor: Celal Bayar University · Academic / Other
• Sex: Female
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

Intramuscular (IM) vaccination administered using the right injection technique is known to cause less pain and injury. Nurses employ different approaches like applying pressure, tapping the skin, cold and hot applications for reducing the pain caused by the IM vaccine administration. Helfer skin tap is among the techniques that relax muscles. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of Helfer skin tap technique on pain reduction and hemodynamic parameters during tetanus injection in pregnant women. This study was conducted on pregnant women who applied to the Family Health Center to get a tetanus vaccine. The Helfer skin tap and standard application groups each included 33 and 32 pregnant women, respectively.

Detailed description

In 1988, Joanne Helfer developed the "Helfer Skin Tap Technique" which is applied by touching the skin over the injection site and attempted to reduce the intramuscular injection-related pain. In this technique, after determining the injection site, nearly 15 strokes are made on the skin for almost five seconds using the fingertips of the dominant hand in order to soften the muscles. Later, the skin is cleaned with alcohol, the non-dominant hand is put in V shape and the skin is hit three times. During the third stroke, the syringe is pricked into the muscle with a 90-degree angle at the same time. Making a few taps relaxes the muscles and counting to three helps synchronizing the muscle tap and injection and standardizes the technique. Mechanical stimulation of muscle fibers of larger diameters decreases the effect of smaller, pain generating fibers. According to the gate control theory suggested by Roger Metzack and Past Wall (1965), in addition to a mechanical stimulation during an IM injection, this technique also causes distraction, which, in turn, helps reducing pain. The study aimed to determine the effect of Helfer skin tap technique on pain reduction and hemodynamic parameters during tetanus injection in pregnant women. This study was a randomized clinical trial conducted in Manisa Soma Family Health Center in Turkey. The study was conducted with 65 pregnant women who got tetanus vaccine. Tetanus vaccine was administered using the Helfer skin tap techniques to 33 of the pregnant women and standard IM injection technique to 32 women. The pain was evaluated immediately after vaccination and hemodynamic parameters were examined before and immediately after the vaccine.

Conditions

• Intramuscular Injection
• Pain

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
PROCEDURE	Helfer skin tap injection technique	1. Place the patient in a seated position and open his right arm to inject into the deltoid muscle. 2. After determining the injection site, use the tips of the dominant hand fingers to hit the skin (about 15 strokes) for about five seconds to soften the muscles. 3. After cleaning the skin with alcohol, remove the syringe cover from the dominant hand. Make a V with the non-dominant hand and hit the skin three times. 4. During the third stroke, prick the syringe into the muscle at 90 degrees angle at the same time. 5. After aspiration, continue to hit the skin with the tips of the non-dominant hand fingers while injecting the drug with the dominant hand at a rate of 1 ml / 10 seconds. 6. After injecting the drug, make the non-dominant hand V-shaped and hit the skin three times, pulling the syringe needle out at the same time during the third stroke
PROCEDURE	Standard Injection technique	1. Place the patient in a seated position and open his right arm to inject into the deltoid muscle area. 2. After determining the injection site, prepare the skin with alcohol. 3. Grasp the skin with the thumb and index finger of the non-dominant hand and prick the syringe into the muscle at a 90-degree angle. 4. After aspiration, inject the drug with the dominant hand at a rate of 1 ml /10 seconds. 5. Remove the syringe needle 10 seconds after the drug is consumed

Timeline

• Start date: 2021-08-30
• Primary completion: 2022-03-30
• Completion: 2022-03-30
• First posted: 2023-03-09
• Last updated: 2023-03-09

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Turkey (Türkiye)