What does this research mean for the field?

Thinner, shorter, and concealed subcutaneous injection needles, along with the use of autoinjectors or prefilled syringes, reduce patient-reported pain, anxiety, and adverse events. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.SYNTHESIS. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

Evaluate how needle-specific features and device-related factors influence patient pain, anxiety, and clinical safety indicators during and after subcutaneous injections.

August 29, 2026Drug DeliveryOpen Access

Analyzing the impact of subcutaneous injection needle, device, and administration characteristics on patient pain, anxiety, and safety: a systematic literature review

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Authors

MDMehul DesaiEnable Ireland KCKeith CandiottiUniversity of Miami APAaron Pinkhasov

Discussion

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Implication

Systematic review reveals thinner, shorter, and concealed needles reduce pain in subcutaneous injection recipients, suggesting key targets for patient-centered device design.

Key Points

Evaluate how needle-specific features and device-related factors influence patient pain, anxiety, and clinical safety indicators during and after subcutaneous injections.
Searched MEDLINE, PubMed, Embase, and ClinicalTrials.gov through June 2024 for studies evaluating subcutaneous needle attributes and patient outcomes.
Conducted dual-reviewer screening, data extraction, and quality assessment.
Identified and synthesized evidence from 62 eligible studies assessing parameters such as needle gauge, length, tip design, lubrication, and concealment.
Thinner and shorter needles consistently decreased patient-reported pain as well as local adverse events, including bleeding and bruising.
Tapered, lubricated, and retractable or concealed needles, as well as autoinjectors and prefilled syringes, reduced patient anxiety and boosted user satisfaction.
Definitive quantitative conclusions were limited by widespread study heterogeneity and a frequent lack of isolated, single-variable evaluations of specific needle parameters.

Cite This Study

Desai et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a9299db8e5d7d1fc0c12158 https://doi.org/10.1080/10717544.2026.2719057

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Implication

Systematic review reveals thinner, shorter, and concealed needles reduce pain in subcutaneous injection recipients, suggesting key targets for patient-centered device design.

Analyzing the impact of subcutaneous injection needle, device, and administration characteristics on patient pain, anxiety, and safety: a systematic literature review

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

Analyzing the impact of subcutaneous injection needle, device, and administration characteristics on patient pain, anxiety, and safety: a systematic literature review

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

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