RecruitingNot Applicable

Effect of Stress Ball During Chest Tube Removal After Open Heart Surgery

Turkey (Türkiye)46 participantsStarted 2025-11-27

Plain-language summary

15 minutes before the procedure, nurses (FEÖ and NT) will explain and demonstrate how to use the stress ball. The stress ball will be applied for approximately five minutes, including the chest tube removal procedure. A round, medium-hard, high-quality silicone ball, approximately 6 cm in diameter, will be used. Patients will be asked to hold the ball in their palms, count to three, squeeze, and release once. Patients will be instructed to continue this exercise until the chest tube removal procedure is completed, and then, under the supervision of the researcher, for approximately five minutes, focusing their attention on the stress ball. The ball will be washed and cleaned after each use and wiped with disposable asepsis wipes before being administered to the patient. The control group will not receive any other treatment beyond routine treatment and will be assessed at the same time as the study group. The chest tube will be removed by a physician during the stress ball application. Procedural pain level, anxiety level and hemodynamic variables of all patients in the study and control groups will be re-evaluated immediately after chest tube removal and 15 and 30 minutes after chest tube removal.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria:Patients will be included : have only one chest tube after open heart surgery, * are 18 years of age or older, * are conscious and cooperative, * speak and understand Turkish, * have a stable general condition and hemodynamic variables, * have a planned surgical procedure, * have no previous chest tube experience, * have no psychiatric diagnosis, * are not using psychiatric and/or local neuromuscular blocking medications, * agree to participate in the study (sign the Informed Consent Form). Exclusion Criteria:Patients who do not have a chest tube or have multiple chest tubes after open heart surgery, * Are under 18 years of age, * Are conscious and uncooperative, * Do not speak or understand Turkish, * Are in an unstable general condition or hemodynamic variables, * Have undergone emergency surgery, * Have previous chest tube placement experience, * Have a current psychiatric diagnosis, * Are taking psychiatric and/or local neuromuscular blocking medications, * Do not agree to participate in the study (do not sign the Informed Consent Form) will not be included in the study.

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Participants' pain levels with stress ball application

Timeframe: Before, immediately after, 15 minutes and 30 minutes after chest tube removal

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07251270

SponsorMersin University

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2026-05-01

Contact for this trial

Tuğba ÇAM YANIK

+905067703216 tugbacam@mersin.edu.tr

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