Music-Assisted Acupressure for Pain During AVF Cannulation in Hemodialysis Patients

This randomized controlled trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of music-assisted acupressure on pain experienced during arteriovenous fistula (AVF) cannulation in hemodialysis patients. The study was carried out with 72 patients receiving hemodialysis treatment three times per week via AVF in a state hospital in Gaziantep, Türkiye. Participants were randomly assigned to one of four groups: music-assisted acupressure, acupressure alone, music alone, and control group (routine care). The acupressure intervention was applied to the Hegu (LI4) point for approximately 3 minutes prior to needle insertion, while the music intervention consisted of listening to instrumental Classical Turkish Music in the Acemaşiran mode through headphones starting 5 minutes before cannulation and continuing until the end of the procedure. Pain intensity during AVF cannulation was measured using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) during three consecutive dialysis sessions. The primary outcome was pain severity during needle insertion. The study aimed to determine whether combining music therapy and acupressure would provide greater pain relief compared to single interventions or routine care. Findings suggest that music-assisted acupressure may be an effective non-pharmacological nursing intervention for reducing procedural pain in hemodialysis patients.

Inclusion Criteria: * Age ≥ 18 years * Receiving hemodialysis treatment three times per week * Presence of an arteriovenous fistula (AVF) for vascular access * Ability to communicate in Turkish * No use of analgesic medication prior to AVF cannulation * No pain or pathology in the upper extremities that could affect intervention application or pain assessment * Willingness to participate in the study and provide informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Diagnosis of neuropathy * History of upper extremity surgery or soft tissue injury * Presence of bleeding disorders or coagulation disorders * Diagnosis of heart failure * Presence of a pacemaker * Inability to comply with study procedures or complete data collection * Any condition that could interfere with pain perception or the application of acupressure or music intervention