The Effect of Stress Ball Used During Intra Uterine Insemination on Pain, Anxiety, Comfort and Physiological Parameters

This study aimed to determine the effects of holding the patient's hand and using a stress ball during the Intrauterine Insemination procedure on pain, anxiety, comfort, and physiological parameters. This study will be conducted as a randomized controlled trial with a pre-test-post-test procedure in the IVF Unit of a Medical Faculty Hospital in Turkey. The study sample was planned to include 120 participants, 40 women each in the stress ball, hand-holding, and control groups. Data will be collected using the Personal Information Form, Visual Analog Scale, State Anxiety Inventory, and General Comfort Scale Short Form. In the Stress Ball Group, participants are given a colored silicone stress ball (5-7 cm diameter) 5 minutes before the procedure. During the procedure, they are instructed to squeeze the ball twice after counting to 10 and repeat this until the procedure is complete. In the Hand-Holding Group, the researcher holds one of the participant's hands during catheter insertion and removal. The researcher's fingers are closed but not interlocked and placed gently on the participant's hand without additional movements or gloves. In the Control Group, Participants receive no additional intervention beyond the standard routine procedures.