Objective: This study examined the reasons and outcomes associated with patients receiving intramuscular injections in the emergency department. Materials and Methods: From April 15, 2023, to May 30, 2023, this study included 1,000 patients who visited the Emergency Department of Göztepe Prof. Dr. Süleyman Yalçın City Hospital and received intramuscular injections. The collected data comprised demographic information, reasons for admission, known chronic conditions, frequency of injections, reasons for preference, and knowledge levels regarding complications. The results were analyzed and compared with the existing literature. Results: Of the patients, 466 (46.6%) were male, and 534 (53.4%) were female. Patients aged 26 to 45, primarily men with high school diplomas, were more likely to receive intramuscular injections. The most common reasons for visiting the emergency department were low back pain (23.7%) and high fever (21.7%). The most prevalent systemic diseases identified were hypertension (27.0%) and diabetes (15.6%). Most intramuscular injections (74.0%) were administered based on doctors' recommendations. Seventeen patients received intramuscular injections at least ten times a year. Physicians frequently recommended these injections for patients experiencing headaches and low back pain; in contrast, they suggested oral treatments for those with high fever, cough, and sputum. Both intramuscular and oral treatments were often recommended for patients suffering from nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and urinary discomfort. Conclusion: The effectiveness of intramuscular injections is undeniably compelling. Emergency departments are the most common settings for administering these injections. The highest usage rates are observed among male workers and high school graduates. Furthermore, higher educational levels do not correlate with a decrease in intramuscular injection use. Patients generally have a strong understanding of the complications associated with these injections. Doctors demonstrate a notable preference for intramuscular injections as a treatment option.
Koç et al. (Tue,) studied this question.