Acute pain in patients with gastritis was a common complaint that caused discomfort, sleep disturbances, and increased anxiety. Non-pharmacological interventions such as warm compress therapy using a Warm Water Zak (WWZ) had been shown to reduce pain intensity through mechanisms of vasodilation, smooth muscle relaxation, and modulation of pain perception. This case study aimed to describe the effectiveness of WWZ in reducing acute pain in a hospitalized patient with gastritis.
This study employed a case study approach involving one patient with acute gastritis who presented with an initial epigastric pain score of NRS 9. The WWZ intervention was administered routinely for five days with a duration of approximately 23 minutes at a temperature of ±50°C on the epigastric area, accompanied by supportive interventions including deep-breathing relaxation, pain-management education, semi-Fowler positioning, and collaborative medical therapy. Pain assessment was performed using the PQRST method and the NRS scale, and vital signs were monitored to evaluate the patient’s physiological response.
The results showed a consistent decrease in pain intensity each day, from a score of 9 on the first day to 0 on the fifth day. The patient also demonstrated improved comfort, better sleep quality, reduced nausea, and no adverse effects such as skin irritation or burns. This pain reduction was associated with increased local blood flow, relaxation of gastric smooth muscles, and decreased sympathetic nervous system activation during heat therapy.
The application of WWZ was proven to be simple, safe, and effective in reducing acute pain in patients with gastritis. This intervention could be recommended as part of non-pharmacological pain management supporting evidence-based nursing (EBN), enhancing patient comfort, and complementing pharmacological therapy without causing side effects.