Efficacy of EMLA cream to reduce fear and pain associated with interferon beta-1a injection in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Abstract

Fear of pain from injections may affect adherence to needed drug therapy. A single-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of EMLA cream in reducing the fear and pain associated with intramuscular (IM) injection during administration of interferon beta-1a to patients with multiple sclerosis. Patients rated fear of injection on a visual analog scale before the injection and rated injection pain following the injection. With the application of EMLA cream, the mean pain-of-injection score was found to be significantly lower than the mean fear-of-injection score. The 18 patients who completed the study experienced a statistically significant decrease in both scores. This study suggests that the use of EMLA cream may reduce the pain and fear associated with IM injections.

• Authors: Marijean Buhse
• Journal: The Journal of neuroscience nursing : journal of the American Association of Neuroscience Nurses (J Neurosci Nurs) Vol. 38 Issue 4 Pg. 222-6 (Aug 2006) ISSN: 0888-0395 [Print] United States
• PMID: 16924997 (Publication Type: Controlled Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Adjuvants, Immunologic
• Anesthetics, Local
• Lidocaine, Prilocaine Drug Combination
• Ointments
• Prilocaine
• Interferon-beta
• Lidocaine
• Interferon beta-1a

Topics

• Adjuvants, Immunologic (administration & dosage)
• Administration, Cutaneous
• Adolescent
• Adult
• Anesthetics, Local (therapeutic use)
• Attitude to Health
• Clinical Nursing Research
• Cross-Over Studies
• Fear (drug effects, psychology)
• Female
• Humans
• Injections, Intramuscular (adverse effects)
• Interferon beta-1a
• Interferon-beta (administration & dosage)
• Lidocaine (therapeutic use)
• Lidocaine, Prilocaine Drug Combination
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting (drug therapy, psychology)
• Ointments
• Pain (diagnosis, etiology, prevention & control)
• Pain Measurement
• Pilot Projects
• Prilocaine (therapeutic use)
• Single-Blind Method
• Treatment Outcome