The Effect of Helfer Skin Tap Technique During Tetanus Injection in Pregnant Women

Overview

Intramuscular (IM) vaccination administered using the right injection technique is known to cause less pain and injury. Nurses employ different approaches like applying pressure, tapping the skin, cold and hot applications for reducing the pain caused by the IM vaccine administration. Helfer skin tap is among the techniques that relax muscles. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of Helfer skin tap technique on pain reduction and hemodynamic parameters during tetanus injection in pregnant women. This study was conducted on pregnant women who applied to the Family Health Center to get a tetanus vaccine. The Helfer skin tap and standard application groups each included 33 and 32 pregnant women, respectively.

In 1988, Joanne Helfer developed the "Helfer Skin Tap Technique" which is applied by touching the skin over the injection site and attempted to reduce the intramuscular injection-related pain. In this technique, after determining the injection site, nearly 15 strokes are made on the skin for almost five seconds using the fingertips of the dominant hand in order to soften the muscles. Later, the skin is cleaned with alcohol, the non-dominant hand is put in V shape and the skin is hit three times. During the third stroke, the syringe is pricked into the muscle with a 90-degree angle at the same time. Making a few taps relaxes the muscles and counting to three helps synchronizing the muscle tap and injection and standardizes the technique. Mechanical stimulation of muscle fibers of larger diameters decreases the effect of smaller, pain generating fibers. According to the gate control theory suggested by Roger Metzack and Past Wall (1965), in addition to a mechanical stimulation during an IM injection, this technique also causes distraction, which, in turn, helps reducing pain. The study aimed to determine the effect of Helfer skin tap technique on pain reduction and hemodynamic parameters during tetanus injection in pregnant women. This study was a randomized clinical trial conducted in Manisa Soma Family Health Center in Turkey. The study was conducted with 65 pregnant women who got tetanus vaccine. Tetanus vaccine was administered using the Helfer skin tap techniques to 33 of the pregnant women and standard IM injection technique to 32 women. The pain was evaluated immediately after vaccination and hemodynamic parameters were examined before and immediately after the vaccine.