Stress Balls cost-effective Pain Relief Option in Hemodialysis Patients: Study

A single-blind, randomized, controlled design was used. Sixty-four participants were divided into experimental (n = 32) and control groups (n = 32). The experimental group used a stress ball for 3 min before and during cannulation, while the control group received routine care without additional intervention. Pain was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) after cannulation across 12 sessions. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: The median VAS score in the intervention group was significantly lower than in the control group.

The intervention group showed a significant decrease in VAS scores over 12 sessions (p < 0.01). Stress ball usage had an increasing effect over time (p = 0.016). Overall, median VAS scores differed significantly between groups (p < 0.01). Using stress balls during cannulation reduces pain intensity in hemodialysis patients, with increased effectiveness over multiple sessions. Nurses can recommend stress balls as a simple and cost-effective pain management method.

Reference:

Tosun, B., Berşe, S., Dirgar, E. et al. Effect of stress ball use on cannulation-related invasive pain in Hemodialysis patients: a randomized controlled, single-blind study. BMC Nephrol 26, 140 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12882-025-04071-w