EFFECT OF MOIST HEAT THERAPY ON THE VISIBILITY AND PALPABILITY OF VEINS BEFORE PERIPHERAL INTRAVENOUS CANNULATION OF PATIENTS UNDERGOING CHEMOTHERAPY

ABSTRACT A randomized control trial to assess the effect of ‘moist heat therapy' on the visibility and palpability of veins before peripheral intravenous cannulation of patients undergoing chemotherapy, admitted in oncology wards of a selected hospital, Ludhiana, Punjab. Introduction: Peripheral intravenous catheter insertion is a common nursing procedure often required for the administration of medicines, blood products, fluids, and other medical therapies. Chemotherapy is one of the cancer treatment modalities that provide cure, control, or palliation. Most of the chemotherapeutic drugs are delivered intravenously repeatedly and are irritant and vesicants in nature. Thus, the cancer patients often pose a problem for cannulation and sometimes multiple attempts may occur. Various strategies can be used to identify a suitable vein for cannulation and moist heat therapy is one of them. Objective: This study was conducted with an objective to assess the effect of ‘moist heat therapy' on the visibility and palpability of veins. Methodology: A randomized control trial was taken up at 100 cancer patients selected by convenience sampling technique and randomized into two groups control (n1=50) and experiment (n2=50) by flip and coin method. The pre and post interventional visibility and palpability score of veins were assessed in both the groups by using a standardized scale i.e. vein assessment scale (VAS, Lenhardt, 2002). The data was collected by observation and self report. Results: The study findings revealed that mean age of subjects in both groups was (48.12±11.70). The post intervention mean vein assessment score in experimental group was significantly high than control group (3.9±0.60 vs. 2.28±0.7, t=12.27, p=0.001), moreover the number of pricks was significantly reduced in experimental group than control group (1.13±0.39 vs. 1.74±0.75, t=2.78, p=0.001) respectively. Significant reduction in duration of whole procedure was also observed in experimental group than control group (1.18±0.56 vs. 2.04±1.14, t=4.78, p=0.001) respectively. Conclusion: The use of moist heat therapy is significantly effective in improving visibility and Palpability of veins, reducing number of pricks and duration of whole procedure of IV cannulation. Therefore it is recommended the ‘moist heat therapy' can be used prior to IV cannulation in case of difficult cannulation. Keywords: Moist heat therapy, peripheral IV cannulation, visibility and palpability of veins.