The Effect of Lidocaine Gel on Needle Puncture Pain in Hemodialysis Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial

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Aim: This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of lidocaine gel on cannulation-related pain during arteriovenous fistula access in patients undergoing hemodialysis. Materials and Methods: Prior to the study, necessary approvals were obtained from the ethics committee, the institution, and the patients. The sample size was determined through power analysis, and those patients who met the inclusion criteria were randomly assigned to the intervention (n=34) and placebo (n=34) groups. Data were collected using a questionnaire, and the Visual Analog Scale. The procedure was carried out over three consecutive hemodialysis sessions, during which the participating patients were asked to indicate their level of pain on the Visual Analog Scale after each needle insertion. Results: In the intervention group, the mean pain score before the application of lidocaine gel was “4.50±3.30”. This score decreased to “3.52±2.67” after the first session, to “3.41±2.67” after the second session, and slightly increased to “3.55±2.31” after the third session (p>0.05). In the placebo group, the baseline pain score before the application of physiological saline was “4.47±3.30”, which decreased to “4.32±3.14” after the first session, to “4.17±2.70” after the second session, and to “3.88±2.79” after the third session (p>0.05) Conclusion: The results of the study indicated that there was no statistically significant difference in pain scores across the four repeated measurements in either the lidocaine gel or placebo groups (p>0.05).