Purpose
This study investigates the effects of thermomechanical stimulation intervention during arteriovenous fistula puncture on hemodialysis patients’ pain, anxiety, and stress. Methods: We used a nonequivalent groups pretest-posttest experimental design. In this study, 44 patients on regular hemodialysis (22 each in experimental and control groups) at a general hospital in South Korea were enrolled from December 2020 to January 2021.Subsequently, thermomechanical stimulation intervention using the Buzzy device was applied to the experimental group during arteriovenous fistula puncture. The outcome measures were the patients’ pain, anxiety, and stress.
Results
After the intervention, the experimental group recorded significantly lower arteriovenous fistula puncture pain compared to the control group (t=2.90, p=.006). However, no significant differences in anxiety and stress were noted before and after the intervention between the groups.
Conclusion
The study indicates that thermomechanical stimulation intervention can be utilized as an easy and effective intervention method to reduce the puncture pain experienced by patients on hemodialysis during arteriovenous fistula puncture.

Citations

• Effects of an intervention combining warm therapy with a digital distraction app on pain, stress, and satisfaction during intravenous catheterization in South Korea: a randomized controlled trial
  Jae-Kyeum Lee, Ki-Yong Kim, Yean-Hee Jeong, Yu-Jin Lee, Min-Ho Lee, Myung-Haeng Hur
  Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science.2025; 27(2): 191.     CrossRef
• Effects of a thermoelectric element tourniquet on venipuncture pain and stress relief in Korea: a randomized controlled trial
  Tae Jung Lee, Jihoo Her, Myung-Haeng Hur
  Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science.2025; 27(2): 179.     CrossRef
• Thermoelectric tourniquet–assisted thermotherapy and cryotherapy for pain, regional blood flow, and satisfaction with intravenous injections among hospitalized patients in Korea: a randomized controlled trial
  Seon-Mi Lee, Myung-Haeng Hur
  Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science.2024; 26(4): 323.     CrossRef
• Effect of aromatherapy on quality of life in maintenance hemodialysis patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis
  Cong Zhang, Hang Mu, Yong-Fang Yang, Yong Zhang, Wen-Jun Gou
  Renal Failure.2023;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Juan Bi Tang, a traditional Chinese medicine, for alleviating pain related to arteriovenous fistula in maintenance hemodialysis patients: An interventional pilot study with brief review
  Yung-Tang Hsu, Yung-Hsiang Chen, Chung-Ming Fu, Wen-Chin Lee, Ming-Yen Tsai
  Medicine.2023; 102(45): e35974.     CrossRef

PURPOSE
The purposes of this secondary data analysis study were first to identify the number of Korean adults achieving goals set by the American Diabetes Association for hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), blood pressure (BP), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and secondly to identify the characteristics associated with lack of goals attainment.
METHODS
The sample was 413 Koreans with diagnosed diabetes aged thirty years or older who participated in the Fourth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Goals attainment for HbA1c, BP, and LDL-C were presented in percentages. Logistic regressions were used to examine associations between participants' characteristics and lack of goals attainment.
RESULTS
About 48% had HbA1c<7%, 48.2% had BP<130/80mmHg, and 34.1% had LDL-C<100mg/dL. Only 8.7% of the sample achieved all three parameters. In multivariate analysis, younger age, longer diabetes duration, insulin use, and abdominal obesity were associated with not meeting HbA1c goal. Smoking and use of antihypertensive medication were associated with BP> or =130/80mmHg. No use of lipid lowering agents was associated with LDL-C> or =100 mg/dL.
CONCLUSION
Many Koreans with diabetes were not at goals for HbA1c, BP, and LDL-C. For optimal control, appropriateness of therapy and poor lifestyle habits should be assessed periodically and managed accordingly.