This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, within-patient crossover trial evaluated whether a vapocoolant (cold) spray applied before subcutaneous insulin injection reduces injection pain compared with a placebo (sterile-water) spray in adults treated in a tertiary-care emergency department. Each participant received a cold spray before one clinically indicated insulin injection and a placebo spray before another, in randomized order, and marked injection pain on a 100-mm visual analog scale 10 seconds after each injection. The within-patient design allowed each participant to serve as their own control.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Age 18 years or older
* Receiving subcutaneous insulin in the emergency department
* Expected to require at least one further subcutaneous insulin injection during the same encounter
* Able to complete a 100-mm visual analog scale (VAS)
Exclusion Criteria:
* Allergy to the spray content
* Local abnormality at the intended abdominal injection site (e.g., active skin infection, hematoma, extensive scarring, or lipohypertrophy)
* Cognitive condition precluding reliable VAS assessment (e.g., dementia or Alzheimer disease)
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Injection pain on a 100-mm visual analog scale (VAS)