NEEDLE PENETRATION DEPTH ACCORDING TO GENDER AND BODY MASS INDEX IN VENTROGLUTEAL INTRAMUSCULAR INJECTIONS IN ADULTS

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the needle penetration depth in ventrogluteal intramuscular injections in adults, taking into account gender and body mass index (BMI).Material and Method: This study was designed as correlational research with a sample of 232 patients. The ventrogluteal intra-muscular injection area was identified using V and G methods and these points were examined under ultrasonography; the subcutaneous tissue, M. gluteus medius, and M. gluteus minimus thicknesses were defined by considering the gender and BMI. Data analysis was performed using arithmetic mean, standard deviation, frequency, percentage, Independent Samples t Test, and ANOVA. Result: Needle penetration depth is between 20-48 mm in thin women, 18-53 mm in normal weight women, 29-62 mm in over-weight women, and 26-88 mm in obese women; 23-37 mm in thin men, 18-41 mm in normal weight men, 25-50 mm in over-weight men, and 17-82 mm in obese men. In addition, it was determined that needle penetration depth was statistically different according to the BMI category for bot women and men (p<0.001) and also statistically different according to gender (p<0.001).Conclusion: Particularly in overweight and obese women, longer needles should be used. In addition, considering BMI, the needle penetration depth in women should be greater than in men. It was found that the range of needle penetration depths