Background: Plateletpheresis is generally safe but may have adverse reactions. Adverse reactions can negatively influence donor recruitment and retention. Valsalva is a proven method of attenuating pain caused by venipuncture.
Aims: The aim was to evaluate the efficacy of the Valsalva maneuver on the attenuation of needle pain and donor anxiety.
Settings and design: This prospective randomized controlled trial was conducted between November 2015 and April 2016 at the Department of Transfusion Medicine.
Subjects and methods: One-hundred and sixty consecutive donors were grouped into control group (C) and Valsalva group (V) each of sample size 80. The Valsalva group performed a Valsalva maneuver and control did nothing before the venipuncture. Anxiety and pain were scored using a 10 cm visual analog scale (VAS). Severity was graded as VAS = 0 defines no pain and anxiety, VAS = 1-3 as mild pain and anxiety, VAS = 4-6 as moderate pain and anxiety, VAS = 7-9 as severe pain and anxiety, whereas VAS = 10 denotes extreme pain and anxiety.
Statistical analysis: Statistical Package for Social Sciences, version 23 was used for analysis. Independent samples t-test/Mann-Whitney U-test was used to compare between treatment and control group, whereas the Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to test the difference between pre- and postobservations.
Results: In the Valsalva group, post-Valsalva anxiety levels were significantly reduced to (1 [0-2]) from their pre-Valsalva values of (2 [0-3]); (P < 0.001). Pain was significantly lower (2[1-2]) in Valsalva group compared to control (4[2-5]); (P < 0.001).
Conclusions: Valsalva reduced both severity of venipuncture pain and anxiety. Valsalva can be performed by donors as it is an easy, painless, and nonpharmacological method of pain and anxiety attenuation.
Keywords: Anxiety; Valsalva; apheresis; needle pain; plateletpheresis donor.
Copyright: © 2021 Asian Journal of Transfusion Science.