BACKGROUND Massive screening campaigns for SARS-CoV-2 are currently carried out throughout the world, relying on reverse-transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) following nasopharyngeal swabbing performed by a healthcare professional. Yet, due to the apprehension of pain induced by nasopharyngeal probing, poor adhesion to those screening campaigns can be observed. To enhance voluntary participation and to avoid unnecessary exposition to SARS-CoV-2, self-swabbing could be proposed. To date, no data have been published concerning pain induced by conventional- or self-swabbing. Thus, the primary objective of the present study was to evaluate pain induced with the conventional swabbing method and compare it to self-swabbing. Secondary objectives focused on swabbing-induced discomfort and acceptability of the two methods. METHODS The study was conducted in Clermont-Ferrand medical school (France). Overall, 190 students were randomised into 2 groups and experienced either self- or conventional-swabbing. Each subject had to rate pain, discomfort and acceptability of such swabbing on a 0-10 numeric rating scale. RESULTS No significant difference was found between the two methods. Mean pain level was 2.5±1.9, 28% rating pain as ≥4/10. Discomfort was 4.8±2.2, 66% indicating significant (≥4/10) discomfort. Higher pain and discomfort were associated with female sex. Acceptability was ≥8/10 for 89.0% of the subjects and all would have accepted to undergo a new test with the same technique if necessary. CONCLUSION Both conventional and self-swabbing induce low levels of pain for most young healthy volunteers whereas discomfort is very frequent. Nonetheless, both methods are indifferently well-accepted in medical students. Future studies among symptomatic subjects are awaited.

中文翻译：

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用于 SARS-CoV-2 筛查的鼻咽拭子引起的疼痛：常规和自拭子的随机对照试验

背景 SARS-CoV-2 的大规模筛查活动目前在世界各地开展，依赖于由医疗保健专业人员进行鼻咽拭子后的逆转录酶聚合酶链反应 (RT-PCR)。然而，由于担心鼻咽探查引起的疼痛，可以观察到对这些筛查活动的粘附性较差。为了加强自愿参与并避免不必要地暴露于 SARS-CoV-2，可以建议进行自我擦拭。迄今为止，还没有关于传统擦拭或自擦拭引起的疼痛的数据发表。因此，本研究的主要目的是评估传统擦拭方法引起的疼痛，并将其与自擦拭方法进行比较。次要目标侧重于擦拭引起的不适和两种方法的可接受性。方法 该研究在克莱蒙费朗医学院（法国）进行。总体而言，190 名学生被随机分为 2 组，并进行了自我或常规擦拭。每个受试者必须以 0-10 的数字等级评定这种擦拭的疼痛、不适和可接受性。结果 两种方法之间没有发现显着差异。平均疼痛水平为 2.5±1.9，28% 的疼痛等级为 ≥4/10。不适为 4.8±2.2，66% 表示显着 (≥4/10) 不适。更高的疼痛和不适与女性有关。89.0% 的受试者的可接受性≥8/10，如有必要，所有人都愿意接受使用相同技术的新测试。结论 对于大多数年轻的健康志愿者来说，传统和自我擦拭都会引起低水平的疼痛，而不适则非常频繁。尽管如此，这两种方法在医学生中都不太受欢迎。等待有症状受试者的未来研究。