Effect of Hand Massage on Chronic Kidney Disease Associated Pruritus in Patients Receiving Hemodialysis

Chronic Kidney Disease-Associated Pruritus (CKD-aP) affects about 25% of Swiss hemodialysis patients, most with moderate to severe itching. It negatively impacts sleep, quality of life, and survival. This mixed-methods study will investigate the effect hand massage delivered by nurses on the itch severity, health-related quality of life and sleep compared to usual care in patients on hemodialysis. Fifty-four patients will be randomized to receive either hand massage or verbal attention over three months. Quantitative data (NRS, 5D Itch Scale, KDQOL-SFv1.2) will be collected at baseline, one, and three months. Qualitative interviews with 12 participants who received the hand massage intervention, will explore their experiences. The intervention is safe, non-invasive, and may offer valuable insights into CKD-aP management and pathogenesis.

NCT Number	NCT07312916
Lead Sponsor	University of Applied Sciences of Western Switzerland Collaborators: Swiss National Science Foundation
Conditions	Chronic Kidney Disease Associated Pruritus
Enrollment	54 participants
Start Date	2025-12-17
Primary Completion	2026-11-30 (estimated)
Study Completion	2027-06-30 (estimated)
Updated on ClinicalTrials.gov	2026-03-16