Quasi-experimental study to assess the level of pain after application of cold gel pack during arteriovenous fistula cannulation among haemodialysis Patient’s

Background: Arteriovenous fistulas are common form of chronic haemodialysis access. Pain during areteriovenous fistulacannulation remains a common problem in haemodialysis patients. The aim of the study is to assess the level of pain after application of cold gel pack during arteriovenous fistula cannulation among haemodialysis patients. Methodology: The research adopted for the study was quantitative research approach using quasi-experimental research design under post-test research design.A convenient sampling technique was used for selecting sample of 60 patients (30 each in experimental and control groups) who were undergoing haemodialysis by using arteriovenous fistula cannulation at IKDRC-ITS hospital, Ahmedabad.A modified numerical pain scale (Mc Caffery and Beebe, 1989) was developed to assess the effectiveness of cold gel pack application and pain related responses during AVF puncture. Descriptive and inferential statistics was used to analyse the data. Results: Majority 20 (66.67%)in experimental group and 20 (66.67%)in control group ofsamples were male belongs to the age group of 28-50 years. The mean score in experimental group was 4.2 and control group was 5.76 with mean difference was 1.56. The calculated “t” value in experimental group and control group was 4.43 and tabulated “t” value was 2.05 at 0.05 level of significance. Conclusion: The mean control group pain score was significantly higher than mean experimental group pain scores.Therefore, the null hypothesis H0 was rejected and research hypothesis H1was accepted and it revealed that the cold gel pack application was effective in terms of pain management among the patients.