The effect of local cold application on intradialytic cramp: A quasi-experimental study.

AIMS: An intradialytic cramp, which frequently occurs in hemodialysis patients, is a disturbing condition. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of local cold applications on the severity and duration of intradialytic cramps in patients with chronic kidney disease.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This quasi-experimental study sample comprised of 74 patients who were aged >18 years, conscious, and reported experiencing intradialytic cramps in a dialysis center. In this study, the application group had the local cold treatment as well as the treatment recommended by the physician whereas the control group was only given the treatment recommended by the physician. The cramp severity was assessed using a visual analog scale as soon as the cramp started (T1) and 10 min after the onset of the cramp (T2). The cramp duration was determined by a chronometer. The Independent Sample T -test, One-Way ANOVA test, Paired Samples T -test and the Two-Way ANOVA test were used to analyze the data.

RESULTS: In the study, the duration of the cramp (sd) was 9.49 (0.86) minutes in the application group and 7.51 (0.69) minutes in the control group ( t  = 1791, p  = 0.078). It was determined that the pain severity scores of the application and control group patients were significantly decreased at the T2 time point compared to T1 ( p  = 0.001), and the effect of the group and evaluation time points on the cramp severity score was not statistically different ( p  = 0.548).

CONCLUSION: In this study, the mean duration of the intradialytic cramp was below 10 min for both groups. The local cold application had no effect on cramp severity or duration.