The Faculty of Nursing at the University of Baghdad discussed a master’s thesis entitled “The Effect of Non-Pharmacological Strategies for Pain and Anxiety Relief among Children Undergoing Dialysis: A Comparative Study.” The thesis was presented by student Hanan Mohsen Hazza, under the supervision of Professor Dr. Khatam Mutashar Hattab, in the faculty’s main hall.
It aimed to identify and compare the effect of non-pharmacological strategies (such as distraction and relaxation) in relieving pain and anxiety in children aged 6-12 years undergoing dialysis, in addition to exploring the relationship between these strategies and socio-demographic data. The results showed that children in the intervention group, who used non-pharmacological strategies, reported lower mean pain scores on the Wang-Baker scale compared to the control group. Their anxiety levels also decreased significantly.
The important findings of the study showed that the distraction strategy, specifically video games, was the most successful in reducing pain and anxiety among children in the intervention group in general. Non-pharmacological strategies proved effective in reducing pain and anxiety in children undergoing dialysis.
The study concluded with a key recommendation that children, parents, and nurses caring for children undergoing dialysis should take advantage of non-pharmacological strategies to reduce pain and anxiety. This emphasizes the importance of integrating these strategies as an essential part of a comprehensive care plan. Researcher Hanan Mohsen Hazza received a grade of “very good” for her thesis. This study is directly aligned with Sustainable Development Goals 3: “Good Health and Well-Being” and 4: “Quality Education.”
