The effect of stress ball application prior to coronary angiography on stress, anxiety, and vital signs

This study was conducted to examine the effect of stress ball application before coronary angiography on stress, anxiety and vital signs. This experimental study was conducted with 130 patients, 65 control and 65 stress ball groups, hospitalized in the cardiology service and coronary intensive care unit of Karaman Training and Research Hospital between 15 November 2022 and 15 February 2023. Research data; It was collected using the "Individual Introduction Form", "State Anxiety Inventory", "Distress Thermometer" and "Vital Signs Monitoring Form". While the participants in the stress ball group were applied a stress ball before coronary angiography, the participants in the control group received routine coronary angiography protocol and nursing care. In this study, the average age of the individuals participating in the research was 60.34±10.65 in the stress ball group, while the average age of the individuals in the control group was 59.34±11.16. In this study, the post-application state anxiety score average of the individuals in the stress ball group was found to be statistically significantly lower than the control group (p<0.05). When stress levels were compared according to the stress thermometer score, it was found that the stress ball group score decreased significantly after the application (p<0.05), but no statistically significant difference was detected in the control group (p>0.05). In the stress ball group; After stress ball application, it was determined that there was a statistically significant decrease in systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, pulse, respiration and saturation values compared to the stress ball pre-test score (p <0.05). In the intra-group comparison made according to oxygen saturation level, a significant difference was found between the stress ball group mean scores (p<0.001), while the control group mean scores were found to be similar (p=0.198). The study concluded that applying a stress ball before coronary angiography reduces the stress and anxiety levels in people; It has been determined that it has a positive effect on vital signs. For this reason, it is recommended that stress ball application before coronary angiography should be routinely included in nursing care.