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The use of a heating pad to reduce anxiety, pain, and distress during cystoscopy in female patients

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Abstract

Introduction and hypothesis

This study evaluated the effects of using a heating pad during cystoscopy on anxiety, pain, and distress in female patients.

Methods

Seventy-four female patients who underwent rigid cystoscopy between January 2017 and August 2017 were randomized to either the experimental group using a heating pad (n = 37) or the control group using a pad without heat (n = 37). In the experimental group, a heating pad was applied to the patient’s sacrum during cystoscopy. All patients completed the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-S (STAI-S, 20-80) before and after the procedure and assessed their degree of pain and distress after the procedure using a visual analog scale (0–10). Systolic and diastolic blood pressure and pulse rate were also measured before and after the procedure.

Results

Demographic characteristics, mean age, procedure duration, and pre- and post-procedural systolic and diastolic blood pressures and pulse rate were statistically similar between the experimental and control groups. The mean STAI-S score of the experimental group was significantly lower than that in the control group (33.1 ± 10.1 vs 48.2 ± 11.1, p < 0.001). The experimental group had significantly lower pain and distress scores (visual analog scale, 3.8 ± 1.6 and 3.8 ± 1.8 respectively,) than the control group (6.4 ± 1.9 and 6.3 ± 2.1 respectively, both p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Using a heating pad during cystoscopy significantly reduced female patients’ anxiety, pain, and distress. We found this to be a safe, simple, and effective tool to use during cystoscopy.

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Author notes

  1. Hyun Ju Kim and Jong Wook Kim contributed equally to this work

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea

    Hyun Ju Kim, Jong Wook Kim, Hong Seok Park, Du Geon Moon, Jeong Gu Lee & Mi Mi Oh

  2. Department of Urology, Korea University Guro Hospital, #148 Gurodong-ro, Guro-gu, Seoul, 08308, Republic of Korea

    Mi Mi Oh

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  1. Hyun Ju Kim
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  2. Jong Wook Kim
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Correspondence to Mi Mi Oh.

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Kim, H.J., Kim, J.W., Park, H.S. et al. The use of a heating pad to reduce anxiety, pain, and distress during cystoscopy in female patients. Int Urogynecol J 30, 1705–1710 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-018-3786-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-018-3786-0

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