Background and Objective: Injection-site pain and bruising associated with subcutaneous injection of Heparin is one of the physical and psychological discomforts in patients. This study aimed at determining the effect of injection duration on the size of bruising and the severity of injection pain.

  Material and Methods: This quasi-experimental study was designed on 119 patients hospitalized in Panje Azar teaching center in Gorgan, 2009. For each patient, two subcutaneous injections of 10 and 30 seconds were performed with a 12-hour interval. Data collection was carried out using a researcher-made checklist that consists of two sections, demographic characteristics and a section to record the extent of bruising and pain intensity. The Extent of bruising was measured using clear flexible ruler within 48-72 hours and pain intensity by visual analog scale (VAS) immediately after Heparin injection. Data were analyzed using SPSS- 16 by central tendency and statistical tests.

  Results: The Findings show that 10-second injection in comparison to 30-second injection is more effective in increasing the exent of bruising and pain intensity. There is significant difference between the two methods (P<0.05).

  Conclusion: The duration of subcutaneous injection has an effect on bruising extent and the pain following the administration of Heparin in hospitalized patients. The findings can be used in clinical setting and nursing education.

  Background and Objective: Injection of subcutaneous low molecular weight heparin often causes some local reactions such as ­bruising, hematoma­, and pain, directly related to inappropriate injection method­. This study aimed at determining the effect of injection duration of­ Subcutaneous Enoxaparin Sodium on the size of bruising and the severity of injection pain.

  Material and Methods: This experimental study was conducted on 36 patients medicated by subcutaneous Enoxaparin Sodium (60mg). ­­They were randomly divided into two groups.­ The first group received routine method of subcutaneous anoxaparine injection (10 second duration injection technique) and in the second group in addition to routine method, ­“10 second waits” before removing needle was performed. Data collection was carried out by using a researcher-made check-list consisting of a section for demographic data and a section to record the extent o f bruising and pain intensity.­ The Extent of bruising was measured by using a clear flexible ruler within 24, ­ 48 and 72 hours and pain intensity by visual analog scale (VAS) ,immediately after injection­.­­We analyzed the Data by independent T test and Chi square.

  Results: ­ The ­Results indicate ­­that­ the mean ­of pain intensity in second group (­3.05 ± 1.71­)­ is less than first group (­3.86 ± 2.75­)­.­There is no significant difference between two groups for the extent of bruising in 24, ­ 48 and 72 hours (P>0.05).

  Conclusion: with regard to ­pain intensity and the size­ of the bruising, the two groups are not significantly different.