Comparative Study on Warm Compress vs Cold Compress for Management of Peripheral Intravenous Catheter (PIVC)-Induced Pain and Phlebitis

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of warm compress and cold compress in managing peripheral intravenous catheter (PIVC)-induced pain and phlebitis. A quantitative, pre-experimental 2-group pre-test post-test design was adopted, involving 60 purposively selected patients. Participants were divided into 2 groups on the basis of 2 different interventions: Group A (warm compress) and Group B (cold compress). Data were collected using a sociodemographic and clinical variables interview, Numerical Pain Rating Scale, and Visual Infusion Phlebitis (VIP) Scale. In Group A, the mean pain score decreased from 4.37 ± 1.00 to 1.97 ± 1.73, and the mean phlebitis score decreased from 3.20 ± 0.76 to 1.03 ± 0.89. In Group B, the mean pain score reduced from 4.33 ± 0.92 to 1.03, and the mean phlebitis score dropped from 3.24 ± 0.74 to 1.00 ± 0.53. The cold compress demonstrated slightly more effectiveness in relieving pain, whereas the warm compress showed marginally better outcomes in reducing phlebitis severity. No clinical variables were associated with post-test pain levels. However, a significant association was observed between the phlebitis score and type of drug administered (P = .04), suggesting that certain medications, such as antibiotics or inotropes, may influence the development or severity of phlebitis.