The Effect of Cryotherapy at the Hoku Point on the Severity of Pain of Fistula Catheterization in Hemodialysis Patients

Background & Objective: Pain is an unpleasant feeling that influences the quality of patients’ life. Arteriovenous fistula catheterization pain can be reduced in hemodialysis patients with nonmedicinal and noninvasive methods of pain relief. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of cryotherapy at the Hoku point on the severity of the pain of catheterization in hemodialysis patients. Materials & Methods: This quasi experimental study was conducted on 40 hemodialysis patients selected by census sampling method. In the first session, intensity of arterial and venous puncture pain, without applying any intervention, was recorded using the visual analogue scale (VAS). In the second and third sessions before catheterization, ice cubes were placed on the Hoku point for 10 minutes and the intensity of pain of arterial and venous fistula was immediately measured. Data were analyzed using SPSS 19 by independent t-test. Results: The mean score of pain in the first session (arterial: 5.97±2.44, venous: 6.00±2.62) was compared with the mean score of pain in the second (arterial: 2.80±1.92, venous: 2.72±2.09) and third sessions (arterial: 2.42±1.72, venous: 2.50±1.93). The results of repeated measure analysis of variance showed that the mean score of pain significantly reduced in the second and third sessions compared to the first session (P<0.05). Conclusion: Cryotherapy at the Hoku point reduces the severity of pain of arteriovenous fistula catheterization and, thus, can be suggested as an effective noninvasive method for puncture pain relief in hemodialysis patients.