Pain beliefs of hemodialysis patients and non-pharmacological methods they use to relieve pain Pain beliefs of hemodialysis patients

Aim: This study was carried out to determine hemodialysis patients' pain beliefs and nonpharmacological methods used by patients for pain. Material and Methods: The research was carried out between July-September 2020. The study was conducted with 103 patients who volunteered to participate in the study, who did not have communication and psychological problems, and who had been on hemodialysis treatment for at least 6 months. The data were collected using patient information form, non-pharmacological methods form used by patients for pain, and a Pain Beliefs Scale. The descriptive statistical methods, Student's t-test, the One-way Anova and Tukey's Post Hoc were used in the statistical analysis of the study data. Results: It was determined that 49.5% used pharmacological methods to relieve pain. 39.8% used non-pharmacological methods to relieve pain. Among the non-pharmacological methods used in pain relief, the most used methods are massage (24.2%) and cold application (14.5%), respectively. It was found that patients' pain beliefs scale the psychological score average was higher than organic score average. Discussion: In the study, the nonpharmacological methods that patients use most for pain relief were massage and cold application. It was determined that the patients attribute pain to psychological reasons rather than organic ones. To reduce pain in hemodialysis patients, it is important to apply analgesic treatment according to the doctor's request, to use nonpharmacological methods used in pain relief by providing interdisciplinary communication and to evaluate the results.