الفهرس 
AbstractOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Background: Arterial blood gases puncture is an invasive procedure performed for unconscious patients in intensive care units for assessing their acid-base and respiratory problems. It is usually associated with pain that can affect patients’ recovery and progression. Non-pharmacological pain management strategies have been advocated to control pain and avoid the adverse effects of painkillers. Aim: This study aimed to investigate the effect of cryoanalgesia on pain intensity associated with arterial blood gases puncture among unconscious critically ill patients. Method: A quasi-experimental one-group research design was utilized to conduct this study. A convenience sample of 86 unconscious patients in the surgical intensive care unit of Critical Care and Convalescence Hospital was recruited for this investigation. Three tools were used to collect data; health profile assessment tool, Modified Glasgow Coma Scale, and Behavioral Pain Scale. Results: There was a statistically significant reduction in the participants’ pain scores after the application of cryoanalgesia (p≤0.05). Conclusion and Recommendations: Cryoanalgesia is an effective method for reducing unconscious patients’ pain during arterial blood gases puncture. Hence, critical care nurses can introduce the cryoanalgesia in the routine nursing care of arterial blood gases puncture for those patients. Further large-scale studies are required to enrich the evidence that supports the use of this technique in intensive care units.