Cold Compression First Aid Equipment: “Treena Cold/Hot Pack”

Abstract

Hot and cold press is a common medical treatment for patients. From the first aid treatment record of Ngob Health Promoting Hospital in the year 2013, 4.0% of all patients needed either hot or cold compression treatment. However, the equipment cost is very expensive and need to be imported. In addition, the 80.0% of the patients in need of compression required initial hot and subsequent cold treatment.

          The objective of this study were to develop a cold/hot compression or “Treena cold/hot pack” to serve the need for dual use; and to evaulate the product on physical shape, production cost, shelf life, time to keep the required temperature, effectiveness to reduce pain, and satisfaction of the users. The innovation pack age was then tested in 2 population groups: (1) patients attending Ngob Health Promoting Hospital and (2) patients in the communities through the distribution by village health volunteers (VHVs). Data were collected in 3 phases: (1) testing of the physical charateristics of the pack, (2) the results of testing with patients attending the hospital, and (3) the testing outcomes in the communities. It was found that, due to specification of available plastic containers, it was not possible to develop a pack with dual hot and cold functions. The suitable plastic bag was linear low density polyethylene or LLDPE for cold compression and PVC for hot compression. There was no difference in the effectiveness of the treatment using the innovation pack when compared to the available pack in the market. However, the invented pack was more superior to the commercial pack due to a lower cost and longer duration of heat for the hot compression.

Among the patients attending the hospital with muscle, bone or tendon pain, all cases had reduced pain score after 20 minutes of compression treatment. The innovation pack was used properly in the communities as no complains were observed; and 92.2% of users were satisfied with the innovation. Thus, the invented product, Treena cold/hot pack, could reduce the problem of compression pack shortage. Further study was recommended to explore on the type of plastic that could be suitable for producing a dual hot and cold pack, as well as to promote its use in the community through the dissemination by VHVs.