The Effect of the Timing of Cold Application on Pain and Satisfaction in Patients With Fractures

Abstract

This experimental study used a repeated-measures design to examine the effect of the timing of cold application on pain and satisfaction in a sample of 60 patients who had fracture surgery. Cold was applied for 20 minutes each hour for four hours to patients assigned to the experimental group. Whereas cold was applied once to those in the control group: for 20 minutes during the first hour after surgery. Results following data analysis from repeated measurements of pain before and after cold application in both groups showed a significant difference between the groups (p < .05). Patients' levels of satisfaction with nursing care practice were higher in the experimental group than in the control group, although not significantly (p > .05). The pain score in the experimental group decreased significantly with each cold application. In the control group, the pretreatment pain score decreased significantly after one cold application, increasing again in 3 hours without cold application. These findings are important for nurses caring for postoperative patients and giving discharge instructions. Our findings suggest repeated cold applications for 20 minutes at hourly intervals may result in better overall pain reduction than a single cold application.