Setting a package variable very often generates I/Os

Hello,

In a PL/SQL package, I have a procedure that sets a package variable to a given value. This procedure is called VERY often.

In EM/Database Express, Performance hub, Workload tab, I find this procedure in the top database time consuming SQL statements.

This could be OK but I am surprised to see the following breakdown : 5%CPU, 95% UserIO wait class (the underlying event is "Direct path write temp")

Variable type : VARCHAR2(20)

DB version : 12cR2

Are the package variables written to Temporary tablespace when their value is set ?

Could it be avoided ?

Thanks in advance four your replies or feedback.