What variables should inform needle length choice for deltoid intramuscular injection? A systematic review.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

(1) Assess the distribution of skin-to-deltoid-muscle distance (SDMD) at the deltoid intramuscular (IM) injection site; (2) its relationship with demographic and anthropometric variables and (3) Consider the findings in relation to clinical guidance on IM injection, such as COVID-19 vaccines.

Design

Systematic review using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.

Data sources

MEDLINE, EMBASE, ClinicalTrials.gov, Cochrane Library, CINAHL and SCOPUS between June and July 2021 with no publication date limit.

Eligibility criteria

Studies reporting measurements of the SDMD in living adults aged 16 years and older, at the deltoid IM injection site, published in English were considered.

Data extraction and synthe

SUBMITTER: Kearns C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9872490 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature