Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine the physiological responses to the application of a hot compress to the buttocks as the first step to consider preventive intervention for induration caused by intramuscular injection. We measured the physiological response when a hot compress with a hot pack was applied to on one side of the buttocks for 15 minutes in 9 healthy women. In an artificial climate chamber, we measured the skin blood flow and skin temperature of both buttocks, the tissue blood flow and the tissue hardness of the buttocks on the intervention side, rectal temperature and tympanic temperature. We observed the skin symptoms of the buttocks and interviewed the subjects about the degree of comfort or discomfort. The results were analyzed by the Mann-Whitney U-test and Friedman’s test.
The skin temperature, skin blood flow and tissue blood flow of the heated buttock were significantly increased by the hot pack application. These findings suggest that applying a hot compress to the buttocks may prevent induration of the injection site. The tissue hardness of the heated buttock was not changed by the hot pack significantly. Therefore, we could not verify the stretching effect of the subcutaneous and muscular tissues by heating. Changes in tissue hardness should be evaluated before and after injection in patients.
