The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of hand massage and stress ball interventions on anxiety, pain, and physiological parameters in patients undergoing eye surgery. Because eye surgeries are typically performed under local or topical anesthesia, patients remain conscious, which can lead to increased anxiety and pain. This randomized controlled trial aims to find safe, non-pharmacological, and easily applicable nursing methods to improve patient comfort. Adult patients scheduled for eye surgery will be randomly assigned to one of three groups:
Hand Massage Group: Patients will receive a gentle hand massage by a trained researcher for 5 minutes on each hand (10 minutes total) during the surgery.
Stress Ball Group: Patients will rhythmically squeeze and release a soft stress ball for 5 seconds at a time, for a total of 15 minutes during the surgery.
Control Group: Patients will receive standard routine care without any additional interventions.
Researchers will measure the patients' vital signs (blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, and oxygen saturation), as well as their self-reported anxiety and pain levels, to compare the effectiveness of these interventions.
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:
* Being 18 years of age or older.
* Undergoing eye surgery under topical or local anesthesia.
* Being conscious, able to communicate, and having the cognitive capacity to answer questions.
* Having no communication barriers (e.g., hearing, speech, or language problems).
* Having no physical barriers or limitations that would prevent hand massage or stress ball application.
* Volunteering to participate in the study.
* Being able to read and understand Turkish.
Exclusion Criteria:
* Transitioning to general anesthesia during the eye surgery.
* Having a history of severe cardiovascular, neurological, or psychiatric diseases.
* Experiencing any discomfort during the hand massage or stress ball application.
* Cancellation of the surgery during the research process or the participant requesting to withdraw from 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.
1This trial involves using a stress ball or hand massage during eye surgery to help with anxiety and pain — how does that compare to the anxiety and pain management approach already planned for my procedure?
2Since this study isn't recruiting yet, how much of a delay might that mean if I wanted to be considered for it, and would waiting affect my eye surgery timeline?
3This is listed as Phase NA, which suggests it's studying a non-drug intervention — does that mean the risks of participating are lower than a drug trial, or are there still important considerations I should know about?
4The trial measures anxiety levels and pain severity during eye surgery — what tools or scales would be used to measure those, and would I need to do anything differently during my procedure as part of the study?
5Would taking part in this study affect whether I could still receive standard sedation or pain relief options during my surgery, or would those still be available to me?
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
1
Anxiety Level
Timeframe: Pre-operatively (baseline) and 10 minutes post-operatively.