Fake Coughing During Bone Marrow Aspiration and Biopsy

Hematology patients go through many difficult periods during the diagnosis process. One of the most commonly used methods in the diagnosis of hematological diseases is bone marrow aspiration and biopsy (BMAB). BMAB is an invasive procedure and may cause pain in patients. For this purpose, a local anesthetic agent is used during the procedure. However, no effective method has been developed to prevent pain in patients. Both pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods are used to manage pain. Among non-pharmacological methods, cognitive distraction techniques such as feigned coughing and stress balls are used to reduce pain and stress. Some studies have reported that "fake coughing" reduces pain during procedures that cause temporary, sharp pain, such as parenteral injections or venipuncture. A literature review revealed that patients undergoing bone marrow aspiration and biopsy experience intense stress and pain, but there are insufficient studies examining these concepts. This study is expected to contribute to the nursing literature. The aim of this study is to determine the effect of fake coughing and stress ball application on pain during bone marrow aspiration and biopsy.