Patient satisfaction remains a top priority, especially when it comes to HCAHPS scores.
While using skin refrigerants may not directly influence how patients respond to survey questions or the final results, nurses can make a meaningful impact by prioritizing their comfort throughout the hospital stay.
Pain management plays a significant role in shaping a patient’s perception of how well their needs were met.
Gebauer’s Pain Ease®, an FDA-cleared topical anesthetic, is designed to help reduce pain during needle procedures and minor surgical interventions, supporting a more positive patient experience overall.
It may be used prior to or in some cases, in place of lidocaine injections, and it’s easy to apply for a physician or licensed healthcare provider. As a topical anesthetic spray, it works within 10 seconds or less to ease pain of venipuncture, immunizations, IV starts, incisions, suturing, or suture removal.
The following research supports the role of Pain Ease in alleviating pain and fear, improving the overall patient experience.
Can Topical Anesthetics Reduce Venipuncture Pain?
A study published in the Scandinavian Journal of Pain examined 300 adults, ages 18-80, who were undergoing peripheral intravenous line placements. The study group received a topical anesthetic spray (Gebauer’s Pain Ease), while the control group received a sterile water placebo spray. Of the patients who received the anesthetic spray, 35% reported no pain, compared to 8.7% of the placebo group.
Are Topical Anesthetics Effective For IV Cannulation?
In the same study, the group that received the topical anesthetic reported a significant decrease in the acute pain of the PIV cannulation, with no visible skin abnormalities 5-10 minutes after the spray. Among that group, 82% said they would like to use Pain Ease in the future compared to just 40% of the placebo group.
The study concluded that using Pain Ease reduced pain, may increase procedural success rates, and improve patient satisfaction.1
Does A Topical Anesthetic Relieve Pain During Minor Procedures?
In another study, physicians tested Gebauer’s Pain Ease on 34 patients who were having skin tags removed from their chest, face, legs, or arms. Patients received either Pain Ease or a placebo. Among those who received Pain Ease, 67% reported less pain compared to the control group.2
In another study conducted by Dr. Richard A. Weiss, an oculoplastic surgeon and medical director of Weiss Cosmetic & Laser Procedures, he found that “removing pain from the equation allows the physician to perform the procedure more quickly and efficiently.”3
Learn More About Gebauer’s Pain Ease Topical Anesthetic
Gebauer’s Pain Ease can be used by any licensed healthcare practitioner without a physician’s order.
The topical anesthetic is available in several different sizes and varieties, including medium stream spray and mist spray, to accommodate different applications.
When using Pain Ease following the application of an antiseptic, practitioners should hold the spray can upright, approximately three to seven inches from the procedure site, about a can’s length away, and spray steadily for four to 10 seconds or until the skin begins turning white, whichever comes first. For full information on how to use, refer to the instructions.
The anesthetic effect of Pain Ease lasts about one minute and can be reapplied as needed.
To learn more about the benefits of Gebauer's Pain Ease vapocoolant spray and how to use it, download this free practitioner's guide.
1 Study by Mace, S. E., Cleveland Clinic Emergency Services Institute, published in the Scandinavian Journal of Pain (2017). Supported by Gebauer Company.
2 Evaluating a Vapocoolant Spray; Call for Case Reports (Practical Dermatology, March 2017)
3 Topical Anesthetic Product Proves to Ease Injection Pain, Dermatology Times (March 2010)
