Comparing Mirror and Music for Dialysis Needle Pain

Overview

Inserting needles into the vascular access (fistula) is a major source of pain and anxiety for many hemodialysis patients. This study compared two simple, non-drug techniques to reduce this pain: listening to music and looking into a mirror during the needle insertion. A total of 75 adult patients receiving regular hemodialysis at Izmir Özel Can Dialysis Center were randomly divided into three groups: a music group, a mirror group, and a control group. Patients in the music group listened to calming, instrumental Turkish classical music (makam) via headphones during cannulation. Patients in the mirror group looked at the reflection of their healthy arm in a mirror. The control group received standard care without these interventions. Pain intensity was measured immediately after needle insertion using a 10-cm Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), where 0 means "no pain" and 10 means "the worst imaginable pain." Pain scores were compared between the groups to determine which method was more effective. The results of this study may provide nurses and patients with easy-to-use, evidence-based options to make hemodialysis needle procedures less painful and stressful.

Study Design: This was a prospective, three-arm, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial with a 1:1:1 allocation ratio. Setting and Sample: The study was conducted at the Hemodialysis Unit of Izmir Özel Can Dialysis Center between December 1 and 30, 2025. The study population consisted of 150 patients. The sample size was calculated using G\*Power 3.1.9.2 software. With a significance level (alpha) of 0.05, a power (1-beta) of 80%, and an effect size of 5%, a sample of 25 patients per group (total n=75) was determined to be sufficient for a three-group comparison. Inclusion Criteria: Age between 18 and 85 years. Receiving hemodialysis treatment three times per week. Literate (able to read and write). No hearing impairment. Native Turkish speaker. On hemodialysis for at least 6 months. Baseline pain score \>3 on the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Willing to listen to music. Exclusion Criteria: Presence of a psychological disorder. Communication problems. Diagnosis of cancer. Unwillingness to participate in the study. Randomization: Eligible patients were randomly assigned to one of three groups: the Music Intervention Group, the Mirror Intervention Group, or the Control Group. Interventions: Music Intervention Group: During the arteriovenous fistula (AVF) cannulation procedure, patients listened to pre-selected instrumental Turkish classical music (makam), specifically Nihavend and Muhayyerkürdi maqams, via an MP3 player and headphones. The volume was adjusted to a comfortable level. Mirror Intervention Group: During cannulation, a standard mirror (40 cm in diameter) was positioned on a table stand. It was adjusted so that patients could see the reflection of their healthy (non-cannulated) arm. The distance between the fingertips of the reflected hand and the mirror surface was approximately 30 cm. Patients were instructed to focus only on the image of their healthy hand in the mirror. The cannulation was performed in two phases: immediately after looking at the healthy hand image (incongruent phase) and after 10 minutes of adaptation to the mirror image (adaptation phase). Control Group: Patients received standard cannulation care without any additional intervention. Data Collection Tools: Patient Information Form: Collected socio-demographic characteristics, dialysis duration, and details about pain (location, intensity, type, timing, cause, and coping methods). Visual Analogue Scale (VAS): A 10-cm horizontal line used to measure pain intensity, where the left end (0 cm) represents "no pain" and the right end (10 cm) represents "the worst pain imaginable." Patients marked their current pain level on the line, and the distance from the left end was measured in centimeters to obtain a numerical score (0-10). Procedure: After providing informed consent, all participants completed baseline assessments (Patient Information Form, VAS). The interventions were applied during subsequent cannulation sessions as described. Procedural pain was assessed using the VAS immediately after cannulation.