The effect of a stress ball on pain, anxiety, satisfaction, and treatment continuation during extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy: a randomized controlled trial.
Canan Kanat, Gamze Bozkul, Elife Kettaş Dölek et al.
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In 30 seconds
This prospective, two-arm randomized controlled trial assessed whether using a stress ball during extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) affected pain, anxiety, satisfaction, and continuation among 50 patients undergoing ESWL for the first time. Compared with routine care alone, stress ball use was associated with lower pain scores during and after treatment, lower post-procedure anxiety, and higher satisfaction. Continuation to the third ESWL session was 92% with the stress ball versus 68% with routine care (p=0.034).
Key findings
- Pain scores were lower with the stress ball during ESWL (p=0.001) and after the procedure (p<0.001).
- Post-procedure anxiety was lower in the stress ball group (p=0.035), while satisfaction was higher (p=0.011).
- Continuation to the third ESWL session was 92% with the stress ball versus 68% with routine care (p=0.034).
Why it matters
ESWL may involve discomfort and repeated treatment sessions. In this trial, a simple non-pharmacological measure was associated with better reported comfort and satisfaction, as well as greater continuation to a subsequent session. These outcomes are relevant to tolerability and completion of repeated treatment, although the findings come from a small trial and do not establish effects in other settings or populations.
What to keep in mind
The trial included 50 first-time ESWL patients at a single university hospital, limiting the certainty and generalisability of the findings.