A comparison of TWO regions used in capillary blood glucose test in terms of pain and result consistency

This study is a crossover design designated to determine the consistency of pain and results between the thumb base, defined as an alternative region to finger stick and fingertip in obtaining blood sample with the intention of monitoring capillary blood glucose. The research was carried out with 130 Type 2 diabetes patients who went to Diabetes Polyclinic of Fethiye State Hospital between August 8 and November 7, 2018. The optimal sample size for the research was determined by performing power analysis. Individual information form, database registration form, visual analog scale (VAS) and glucometer were used to collect research data. During the data collection, after the patients were informed about the research, the researcher took venous blood sample in a tube from each patient and according to the list of order determined via randomization scheme formed on the computer, the patients' glucose levels were measured by taking a capillary blood sample from the side of the middle fingertip and thumb base of the dominant hand with the glucometer. Before the study, the patient's pain assessment at the end of each measurement was carried out by a nurse who was trained by the researcher about the use of VAS. Ethical approval was obtained from Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University Clinical Research Ethics Committee and written consent was given by Muğla Provincial Directorate of Health and the patients. It was determined that the age range of the research participants was 55,74±10,85 and 56,9 % of them were female and 60,8% of them were obese (BMI >30). Mean blood glucose values were 138,55±38,57 mg/dl from fingertips and 137,88±36,96 mg/dl from thumb base and 146,26±43,68 mg/dl for venous sampling. Considering the blood glucose sample values that were measured from the venous blood, fingertip and thumb base, it was detected that there was a statistically significant consistency at 0,960 level (p<0,01). Moreover, it was found that there was a statistically and significantly higher level of pain in the fingertip when compared to the pain in thumb base (p<0,01). It was revealed that the results of the fingertip and thumb base used in capillary blood glucose tests were reliable when compared to the results of the venous blood glucose tests and the thumb base region was less painful than the fingertip. It is suggested that diabetes patients and nurses working in the clinics should consider using the thumb base region during the capillary blood glucose tests.