Çınar Derya, Çelik Ayşegül, Çetin Aslıhan Öztürk
Oncology Nursing Department, İzmir Bakırçay University, Faculty of Health Sciences, İzmir, Türkiye.
Support Care Cancer. 2025 Aug 21;33(9):801. doi: 10.1007/s00520-025-09863-2.
The insertion of a port catheter can cause discomfort and distress to cancer patients, which may impair their comfort. The use of distraction techniques, such as stress balls, can help to alleviate pain and stress, thereby enhancing the patient experience. This study aimed to determine the effect of stress ball application on perceived stress, pain, and satisfaction during port catheter needle insertion in cancer patients.
This quasi-randomized controlled experimental study involved 74 cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, who were randomly assigned to either the intervention group (n = 37) and the control group (n = 37). Prior to the implementation of the port catheter needle, the demographic and clinical data of the patients were recorded. Subsequently, the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) was administered as a pre-test to ascertain their stress levels. During the procedure, patients in the intervention group were provided with a stress ball, which they were instructed to squeeze and release for approximately 5-10 min until the port catheter needle was inserted. After the procedure, the satisfaction levels of patients in the intervention group regarding the use of the stress ball were evaluated with the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). As a post-test, VAS was applied to patients in both groups to determine their pain levels, and PSS was applied to evaluate their stress levels. No intervention was made to patients in the control group during the procedure.
While no difference was found between the mean PSS scores of the study groups before the procedure (p = 0.743), a statistically significant difference was found between the groups after the procedure (p = 0.002). The stress levels of the IG, who received stress ball intervention, were lower than those of the CG. A statistically significant difference was found in the mean VAS scores of the groups after the procedure (p = 0.001). The post-test pain score mean of the IG, who received stress ball intervention, was lower than that of the CG. The mean satisfaction level score for the IG concerning the stress ball application during the port catheter needle insertion process was 7.57 ± 1.70.
The utilisation of a stress ball during port catheter insertion is effective in reducing perceived stress and pain levels while also enhancing patient satisfaction.
植入端口导管可能会给癌症患者带来不适和痛苦，这可能会影响他们的舒适度。使用分散注意力的技巧，如减压球，有助于减轻疼痛和压力，从而提升患者体验。本研究旨在确定在癌症患者植入端口导管针过程中使用减压球对感知压力、疼痛和满意度的影响。
这项半随机对照实验研究纳入了74名接受化疗的癌症患者，他们被随机分为干预组（n = 37）和对照组（n = 37）。在植入端口导管针之前，记录患者的人口统计学和临床数据。随后，使用感知压力量表（PSS）进行预测试，以确定他们的压力水平。在操作过程中，干预组的患者会得到一个减压球，并被指示挤压和松开约5 - 10分钟，直到端口导管针插入。操作结束后，使用视觉模拟量表（VAS）评估干预组患者对减压球使用的满意度。作为后测试，对两组患者均应用VAS来确定他们的疼痛水平，并应用PSS来评估他们的压力水平。在操作过程中，对照组患者未接受任何干预。
虽然在操作前研究组的平均PSS评分之间没有差异（p = 0.743），但在操作后两组之间发现了统计学上的显著差异（p = 0.002）。接受减压球干预的干预组的压力水平低于对照组。操作后两组的平均VAS评分存在统计学上的显著差异（p = 0.001）。接受减压球干预的干预组的后测试疼痛评分平均值低于对照组。干预组在端口导管针插入过程中对减压球应用的平均满意度评分为7.57 ± 1.70。
在植入端口导管时使用减压球可有效降低感知压力和疼痛水平，同时提高患者满意度。
