Effect of Stress Ball Use on Pain, Anxiety, and Vital Signs During Ultrasound-Guided Tru-cut Biopsy

Overview

This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effect of stress ball application on pain, anxiety, and vital signs in adult patients undergoing ultrasound-guided tru-cut biopsy procedures. Tru-cut biopsy is a commonly performed invasive diagnostic procedure that may cause procedural pain and anxiety despite standard local anesthesia. Nonpharmacological interventions such as distraction techniques may improve patient comfort during the procedure. Participants are randomly assigned to either an intervention group receiving a stress ball application during the biopsy procedure or a control group receiving standard care alone. Pain intensity is assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), anxiety levels are evaluated using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI Form TX-I), and vital signs are recorded before and after the procedure. The study is conducted at a single tertiary care training and research hospital and includes 79 adult participants. The primary objective of the study is to determine whether stress ball use reduces procedural pain and anxiety during Tru-Cut biopsy procedures. Secondary outcomes include changes in systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, and procedure duration.

A Tru-cut biopsy is a minimally invasive diagnostic procedure frequently used to evaluate suspicious lesions and tissue abnormalities. Although local anesthesia is routinely administered, patients commonly experience procedural pain, anxiety, and physiological stress responses during the procedure. Increased anxiety levels may negatively influence pain perception, procedural tolerance, and overall patient experience. Nonpharmacological interventions have increasingly gained attention as supportive approaches for reducing pain and anxiety during invasive procedures. Among these interventions, distraction techniques are considered practical, low-cost, and easy to implement in clinical settings. Stress ball application is a simple distraction-based intervention that encourages active patient participation and may help redirect attention away from the procedure. This study was designed as a prospective, single-center, parallel-group randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effect of stress ball application on pain, anxiety, and vital signs during ultrasound-guided Tru-Cut biopsy procedures. Participants were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either the intervention group, which received stress ball application during the procedure, or the control group, which received standard care alone. Pain intensity was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and anxiety levels were evaluated using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI Form TX-I). Vital signs, including systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate, were recorded before and after the procedure. The study aimed to determine whether the use of stress balls could reduce procedural pain and anxiety and improve physiological responses during Tru-Cut biopsy procedures.