The Effect of Stress Ball on Anxiety and Pain Levels in Angiography: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Coronary angiography, an invasive diagnostic procedure, often induces pain and anxiety in patients. Despite the potential for alleviating discomfort, the use of stress balls as a nonpharmacological intervention during angiography remains underexplored. This study is aimed at investigating the impact of stress ball application on pain and anxiety levels in patients undergoing angiography. This randomized controlled trial was conducted on adult patients undergoing angiography at a Cardiovascular Surgery Clinic in Eastern Turkey between January 2023 and June 2023. A total of 120 patients were randomly assigned to receive stress ball application in addition to routine care. Data collection utilized the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), Patient Information Form, and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Analysis revealed a significantly lower increase in mean NRS posttest scores among patients in the experimental group compared to the control group ( < 0.05). Additionally, the mean STAI posttest score demonstrated a significant decrease ( < 0.05) in the experimental group. A positive and significant correlation was observed between the mean NRS and STAI posttest scores among study group patients ( < 0.05), indicating a reduction in anxiety levels with decreasing pain. The application of stress balls during angiography was associated with decreased anxiety and pain levels in patients. Stress ball intervention may serve as a beneficial adjunct to pharmacological treatments. This study underscores the potential of nonpharmacological interventions in enhancing patient comfort during invasive procedures. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT06131606 (http://clinicaltrials.gov).