Can a deep breath and a hint of lemongrass take the sting out of dialysis needles?
NCT ID NCT07825974
First seen Sep 17, 2026 · Last updated Sep 18, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
People on hemodialysis receive needle sticks through a fistula or graft several times a week, and the pain and anxiety can build over time. This trial tests whether slow, deep breathing combined with lemongrass aromatherapy reduces pain and anxiety during needle insertion. Researchers randomly assign participants to the combined relaxation approach or standard care, then measure pain intensity and anxiety levels before and after the needle goes in.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- deep breathing relaxation combined with lemongrass aromatherapy
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could give dialysis patients a simple, low-cost way to feel less pain and anxiety during a procedure they face several times a week.
- What could go wrong
- Relaxation and scent therapies often show mixed results, and pain and anxiety are subjective. The trial is small and limited to one center, so the findings may not apply broadly.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
-
About 190 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
-
Aug 2026
- Expected to finish
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Oct 2026
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
-
Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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20 to 60 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
-
Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * receiving hemodialysis three times per week for at least 3 months; stable arteriovenous fistula or graft access; baseline pain score ≥4 on the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) during previous cannulation; ability to understand and perform breathing exercises; and willingness to participate. Exclusion Criteria: * (1)known allergy to lemongrass or essential oils; (2) history of asthma or severe respiratory disease; (3) cognitive impairment or psychiatric disorders; (4) use of analgesic or anxiolytic medications within 24 hours prior to intervention; (5) active infection or skin lesions at the access site; and (6) pregnancy or lactation
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Ministry of Health
Al Muthanná, Samawa, 61001, Iraq
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