Effect of Stress Ball on Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Condition: Irritable Bowel Syndrome; Quality of Life; Depression; Anxiety; Stress
MeSH terms: Irritable Bowel Syndrome; Syndrome; Depression
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      Objective: This study will be conducted to evaluate the effect of stress ball on symptom
      severity, quality of life, depression, anxiety and stress in patients with irritable bowel
      syndrome (IBS).

      Material and Method: The data of the randomized controlled experimental study will be
      collected at the gastroenterology outpatient clinic of Erzurum City Hospital. A simple
      randomization list was created with the Random Allocation Software program and it will be
      carried out with a total of 56 patients diagnosed with IBS, including 28 experimental and 28
      control groups. Patients in the experimental group were asked to squeeze the stress ball for
      at least 10 minutes every day for 4 weeks. No treatment will be applied to those in the
      control group. Patient information form, IBS symptom severity score, IBS quality of life
      scale, Depression-Anxiety-Stress scale will be used to collect research data.

      Keywords: Irritable Bowel Syndrome, patient, stress ball, Depression, Anxiety, Stress,
      Quality of Life
    

Detailed description: 
      Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic biopsychosocial disorder characterized by
      recurrent abdominal pain, constipation and/or diarrhea, bloating, flatulence, and urgent
      defecation.The diagnosis of IBS is made using the Rome IV criteria. With the emergence of IBS
      symptoms, individuals' daily lives, work, sleep patterns, leisure time, eating habits,
      travels, sexual and social relationships are adversely affected. It is stated that anxiety
      and depression exacerbate IBS symptoms, impair quality of life, increase health service
      seeking behaviors, and increase health care use and costs.

      This study will be conducted to evaluate the effect of stress ball on symptom severity,
      quality of life, depression, anxiety and stress in patients with irritable bowel syndrome
      (IBS).

      Patients who come to the outpatient clinic will be met, information will be given about the
      research, and consent will be obtained from the patients who agree to participate in the
      research. The groups of the patients who meet the inclusion criteria will be determined
      according to the randomization list.

      Patient information form, IBS symptom severity score, IBS quality of life scale and
      Depression-Anxiety-Stress scale will be administered by the researcher using face-to-face
      interview technique (pre-test) to the patients in both groups.

      The patients in the experimental group will be given information on how to use the stress
      ball in the room in the outpatient clinic and a stress ball will be given to each patient.
      The first sessions of the patients will be held together with the patient in the outpatient
      clinic. Patients will apply a stress ball (squeezing the stress ball) once a day at home. The
      stress ball is made of round, colorful, high-quality silicone. A stress ball of medium
      hardness and 6 cm in diameter (suitable for adult use) will be used in the research. When it
      is loosened, it returns to its original state. In the experimental group, the patients are
      required to squeeze the ball once after counting to three, inhale each time they squeeze the
      ball, exhale when they loosen their grip, and focus only on the ball. In order to ensure the
      continuity of the stress ball application, the phone numbers of the patients will be taken
      and a reminder message will be sent every day. A 4-week record will be created and they will
      be asked to mark the data showing the amount of application each day to be allocated. The IBS
      symptom score will be evaluated by searching the prices of each week.

      There will be no intervention in the control units. Phone numbers of patients in this group
      will be taken, and IBS symptom severity scores will be evaluated every week.

      Patients in both groups will be called to the outpatient clinic at the end of the 4th week.
      IBS symptom severity score, IBS quality of life scale and Depression-Anxiety-Stress scale
      will be applied to the patients in the outpatient clinic (post test).

      Patients in both groups will continue to use routine treatments for 4 weeks. After the
      research is completed, the patients in the control group will be given a stress ball
      according to their wishes and will be informed about its application.
    

Intervention name(s): Stress ball practice group (Stress ball squeezing)
Intervention type(s): Other
Intervention description(s): The stress ball is made of round, colorful, high-quality silicone. A stress ball of medium hardness and 6 cm in diameter (suitable for adult use) will be used in the research. When it is loosened, it returns to its original state. In the experimental group, the patients are required to squeeze the ball once after counting to three, inhale each time they squeeze the ball, exhale when they loosen their grip, and focus only on the ball. The experimental group has to squeeze the stress ball for 10-15 minutes every day for 4 weeks.
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary purpose: Supportive Care
Keywords: Irritable Bowel Syndrome; patient; stress ball; Depression; Anxiety; Stress; Quality of Life