Abstract
Background
Goserelin acetate, which is injected through a 16-gauge needle, makes some patients feel substantial, although tolerable, pain. We tried to clarify whether injection pain was reduced by icing the skin at the injection site.
Methods
Pain associated with the injection of goserelin acetate was prospectively evaluated in 48 patients who had received an 10.8-mg goserelin injection at least once previously. In this study, the first injection was administered by usual methods, and 3 months later a second injection was administered after icing the skin at the injection site. Pain intensity was evaluated by visual analogue scale (VAS) pain score.
Results
VAS pain scores for the usual injection method were 32.4 ± 21.7 mm [mean ± 2 standard deviation (SD)] and was significantly lower (16.4 ± 17.9) for the icing method (p = 0.001, paired t test). Thirty-three (68.8%), eight (16.7%), and seven (14.6%) of the 48 patients reported a decrease, no change, and increase, respectively, in VAS pain score by the icing method.
Conclusions
Icing at the injection site of goserelin acetate is a safe and effective method to reduce injection pain. This method can be easily performed in daily practice if a patient complains of pain at the injection site.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Williams G, Lindsay S, Bowsher WG (2003) Randomised crossover trial to assess the tolerability of LHRH analogue administration. Prostate Cancer Prostatic Dis 6:187–189
Montgomery BS, Borwell JP, Higgins DM (2005) Does needle size matter? Patient experience of luteinising hormone-releasing hormone analogue injection. Prostate Cancer Prostatic Dis 8:66–68
Todd KH, Funk KG, Funk JP et al (1996) Clinical significance of reported changes in pain severity. Ann Emerg Med 27:485–489
Gallagher EJ, Liebman M, Bijur PE (2001) Prospective validation of clinically important changes in pain severity measured on a visual analog scale. Ann Emerg Med 38:633–638
Bechara FG, Sand M, Altmeyer P et al (2007) Skin cooling for botulinum toxin A injection in patients with focal axillary hyperhidrosis: a prospective, randomized, controlled study. Ann Plast Surg 58:299–302
Skiveren J, Kjaerby E, Nordahl Larsen H (2008) Cooling by frozen gel pack as pain relief during treatment of axillary hyperhidrosis with botulinum toxin a injections. Acta Derm Venereol 88:366–369
Conflict of interest statement
None.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
About this article
Cite this article
Kinoshita, H., Kawa, G., Hiura, Y. et al. Effectiveness of skin icing in reducing pain associated with goserelin acetate injection. Int J Clin Oncol 15, 472–475 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10147-010-0095-0
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10147-010-0095-0