Key result
Chewing gum significantly reduced pain levels, and using a stress ball significantly reduced anxiety levels during peripheral venous blood collection in people with obesity compared to control.
Why the study?
Thick subcutaneous adipose tissue in people with obesity may lead to increased pain and anxiety during venous blood collection.
Does chewing gum or using a stress ball reduce pain and anxiety during blood collection in people with obesity?
RCT (n=108)
parallel group
Does chewing gum or using a stress ball reduce pain and anxiety during blood collection in people with obesity?
In people with obesity, chewing gum reduces pain and using a stress ball reduces anxiety during peripheral venous blood collection.
Stress ball reduces anxiety and chewing gum eases pain during venipuncture in obesity; extends nonpharmacological options for procedural comfort in this population.
It is necessary to collect venous blood from individuals for the follow-up and treatment of obesity-related health problems. Thick subcutaneous adipose tissue in people with obesity may cause them to experience more pain and anxiety during blood collection. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of chewing gum and using stress ball during blood sampling on the level of pain and anxiety and some vital signs in people with obesity. It is a parallel group randomized controlled trial conducted prospectively. The sample was determined by power analysis. The total number of participants was 108. Three groups were included in the study: The control group, those who chewed gum, and those who used stress balls. The study was planned and implemented in accordance with the CONSORT statement. The data was collected as individual introduction form, visual comparison scale, and state anxiety inventory. The mean age of the participants was 48.87 ± 12.44, the mean body mass index was 36.70 ± 5.41, and the mean arm circumference was 33.90 ± 3.67. The pain levels of the gum chewers were significantly lower than those in the control group. The anxiety levels of the stress ball users were significantly lower than those the control group. There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of vital signs after blood sampling. In people with obesity, the use of a stress ball during peripheral venous blood collection reduce anxiety and chewing gum reduce the perception of pain. Chewing gum and using a stress ball are two nonpharmacological methods to reduce blood sampling pain that are both cost-effective and have no side effects.Clinical trial registration: NCT05738551
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Polat et al. (2025) conducted an RCT in obesity (n=108). Chewing gum or stress ball vs. Control group was evaluated on Pain and anxiety levels. Chewing gum significantly reduced pain levels, and using a stress ball significantly reduced anxiety levels during peripheral venous blood collection in people with obesity compared to control.
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