NCT01623583

Effect of Including Synera® in Discussions on Dialysis Access Conversion in Patients With Needle Phobias

A Randomized Controlled Study of the Effect of a Needle Phobia or Apprehension Intervention With or Without Synera® on Conversion From Central Venous Catheters to Arteriovenous Fistula or Graft

• Status: Terminated
• Phase: Phase 4
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 10 (actual)
• Sponsor: Davita Clinical Research · Industry
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

An arteriovenous fistula or graft access (AVF/AVG) for dialysis is often considered a superior option for delivery of dialysis, but requires needles to be inserted. Patients on dialysis who indicate fear of needles as the reason for not switching from a long-term central venous catheter (CVC) access to a fistula or graft access and who otherwise meet the eligibility criterial will be asked to participate. Patients will receive either a standard or an enhanced intervention to address their fear of needles. The enhanced intervention includes the standard intervention plus video training about Synera and trying out an actual patch. Over the 4 months following the intervention, how many patients sign up to switch access will be tracked.

Detailed description

Patients with long-term CVCs (\> 180 days) will be recruited for study participation by being asked "Why haven't you gotten a graft or fistula?" Those who indicate fear or discomfort with needles in the top 3 reasons will be consented into the study and administered the AVF/AVG Stages of Change Questionnaire. The Stages of Change questionnaire has been used extensively in research and has been shown to be highly predictive of people engaging in the behavior of interest. The five stages of change include: 1) Precontemplation: Patient doesn't know about, or knows about but doesn't want to think about, a behavior change; 2) Contemplation: Patients knows about and is beginning to consider behavior change; 3) Planning: Patient is actively investigating and making plans for behavior change; 4) Action: Patient is committed to make the change and/or has taken concrete steps to change behavior; and 5) Maintenance: Patient has made the behavior change and is trying maintain that change. Patients will be cluster-randomized to receive a standard needle phobia intervention (n = 32), or an enhanced intervention consisting of a standard intervention plus a demonstration of the Synera patch (n = 32) within 15 days of baseline. The intervention will be administered by a study team member. In clinics where there is more than 1 patient randomized to a group, the intervention can be administered to multiple patients simultaneously. The standard intervention will last approximately 20 to 30 minutes. During this time, patients will receive information about the advantages of arteriovenous fistula or graft over central-venous catheter, be taught basic relaxation breathing, see a brief video of a patient overcoming needle fear, and have the opportunity to safely interact with a cannulation needle. In the enhanced intervention, the patient will receive the standard intervention with 2 enhancements: (1) the video will include a segment in which a patient experiences the analgesic effects of the a Synera patch and (2) a Synera patch will be applied at the beginning of the intervention, and 30 minutes later the patient will be given the chance to explore the analgesic effects of Synera. Patients will complete a Stages of Change questionnaire 1 week after the intervention. Patients will then be followed for 4 months to determine whether or not they have scheduled a vein mapping appointment or have had a fistula or graft access placed.

Conditions

• Needle Phobia
• Phobic Disorders

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Enhanced Needle Phobia Intervention	The enhanced intervention will include the standard intervention, with two enhancements: * The video will include a segment with a patient using and discussing the analgesic effects of the Synera patch * Before the intervention, a nurse will explain how Synera works and demonstrate its efficacy by having the patient apply it to the non-dominant forearm and leave it in place for 30 minutes, during the intervention. The patient will then be given the opportunity to gently poke 3 times an area of the forearm at least 3 inches from where the patch was applied, and then poke 3 times the center of the area where the patch was applied. The patient may repeat this process up to 3 times. The patient will be asked if he or she can feel the difference in sensitivity.
OTHER	Standard Needle Phobia Intervention	The standard intervention will include the following components: 1. Educational material and discussion with the social worker about the benefits of AVF/AVG over catheter. 2. Basic training on relaxation breathing 3. Brief video of a patient overcoming needle phobia 4. Exposure to a cannulation needle while practicing relaxation breathing, ending in the patients physically holding the needle

Timeline

• Start date: 2014-04-01
• Primary completion: 2015-03-01
• Completion: 2015-03-01
• First posted: 2012-06-20
• Last updated: 2016-08-16

Locations

3 sites across 1 country: United States