Port Catheter Needle Change: Pain, Anxiety and Patient Satisfaction

Port catheters play a significant role in the management of cancer patients and eliminate the need for serial peripheral access by reducing patient anxiety associated with repeated venous punctures. In particular, inserting the needle into a subcutaneous port can be painful, frightening, and uncomfortable, even when the skin is numbed with a local anesthetic. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the effects of stress ball use on pain, anxiety, and patient satisfaction during port catheter needle changes in oncology patients.

Inclusion Criteria: * Being over 18 years of age, * Receiving treatment and care in the oncology ward, * Having the hand function to physically use a stress ball, * Patients who volunteer to participate in the study will be included. Exclusion Criteria: * Patients who cannot be communicated with, * Those with peripheral neuropathic complaints, * Those with psychiatric diagnoses, * Patients who refuse to participate in the study will not be included.