Comparing the effects of Valsalva maneuver and ice massage at Hoku point methods on pain intensity within the needle insertion to the arteriovenous fistula (AVF) for patients undergoing hemodialysis in the selected hospitals in Isfahan in 2015

Abstract

Pain is an unpleasant feeling and it is called as the fifth vital sign. Fistula cannulation in hemodialysis patients is a very stressful and painful process. Nurses can help to relieve pain with the use of non-pharmacological pain management therapies, independently. This study was conducted aimed to compare and determine the effects of Valsalva maneuver and ice massage at Hoku point on pain intensity during cannulation of arteriovenous fistula in patients undergoing hemodialysis. This study was conducted on 70 hemodialysis patients who were selected by convenience sampling in two Amin Medical Center and Hazrat-e Zahra-e Marziye Hospital in Isfahan and were placed in two groups of Valsalva maneuver and ice massage. Data collecting was performed using an interview questionnaire developed by the researcher, Abbey pain scale and numerical pain rating. Data analysis was done using the descriptive and analytic tests in SPSS software version 20. Mann-Whitney results showed that there was no significant difference in objective pain rate between two groups after intervention (P=0.73). Also this test showed that after intervention, objective pain rate in Valsalva maneuver group is significantly less than ice massage group (p=0.04). Valsalva maneuver method compared to ice massage method reduces the objective pain due to cannulation of arteriovenous fistula in patients undergoing hemodialysis, more efficiently.