Effectiveness of cryotherapy in reducing AV fistula puncture pain in hemodialysis patients

Objective To compare the intensity of pain experienced during arteriovenous fistula (AVF) vein puncture between the experimental group receiving cryotherapy and the control group receiving standard care. To evaluate the efficacy of cryotherapy in reducing pain during AVF vein puncture among hemodialysis patients in the experimental group. To analyze the relationship between selected demographic variables (such as age, gender, duration of dialysis, and site of fistula) and the level of pain during AVF vein puncture in both the experimental and control groups. Methods This is a quasi-experimental one-group pre-test and post-test design with dialysis units across selected hospitals in Rajkot. Patients with AVF undergoing routine hemodialysis were enrolled in this study. Application of local cryotherapy (ice pack) was intervened at the cannulation site for a specified duration prior to needle insertion. Pain levels were assessed using the visual analog scale (VAS) before and after intervention. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. Results The experimental group showed a reduction in mean pain score from 3.5 to 2.6 (decrease of 2.6 points). The control group showed minimal reduction from 4.5 to 4.4. The post-intervention pain score in the experimental group was 2.6 (SD = 0.6). A statistically significant difference in pain perception was observed between groups ( t = 12.54, significant). Patients receiving cryotherapy reported feeling calmer and more relaxed during the procedure. Conclusions Local cryotherapy is an effective, safe, simple, and cost-effective intervention for reducing pain during AVF cannulation in hemodialysis patients. It improves patient comfort, cooperation, and overall treatment experience without pharmacological side effects. Routine use in dialysis units is recommended. Further research with larger sample sizes is needed to strengthen and generalize these findings.