The effectiveness of massage on peri-operative anxiety in adults: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials and controlled clinical trials

The Effect of Hand Massage Applied Before Cataract Surgery on Anxiety, Surgical Fear, Pain and Physiological Parameters

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of hand massage applied before cataract surgery on anxiety, surgical fear, pain, and physiological parameters.

DESIGN

Randomized controlled experimental study.

METHODS

The sample of this prospective randomized controlled experimental study comprised 60 patients (30 intervention and 30 control) who had cataract surgery in the Eye Operating Room of a hospital. Data were collected with The Personal Information Form, Physiological Parameters Registration Form, Visual Analog Scale (VAS)-Anxiety, Surgical Fear Questionnaire, and VAS-Pain scale. In the study, patients in the intervention group received a 10 minutes hand massage before cataract surgery.

FINDINGS

Results showed that the anxiety and surgery fear of patients decreased after hand massage (for all; P < .05). While the VAS-Pain score of the intervention group was 1.00 (2.00), it was 2.00 (1.00) for the control group (P < .05). The total Surgical Fear Questionnaire mean scores of the patients in the intervention group after hand massage was lower compared with the control group (P < .05).

CONCLUSIONS

Hand massage applied before cataract surgery reduced the patients' anxiety, surgical fear, pain levels and positively affected their physiological parameters.

Can a six-week Swedish massage reduce mood disorders and enhance the quality of life in individuals with Multiple Sclerosis? A randomized control clinical trial

INTRODUCTION

There is a limited amount of research specifically focusing on the effects of Swedish massage on mood disorders and the quality of life (QOL) among individuals with MS, emphasizing the need for further investigation. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the effects of a 6-week Swedish massage on the quality of life, stress, anxiety, depression, pain, fatigue, spasticity, and sleep quality in MS patients.

METHODS

This randomized controlled trial involved 70 MS patients who were divided into two groups. The massage group underwent two 50-minute sessions of whole-body Swedish massage per week for six weeks, while the usual treatment group maintained their regular medical care routine. Outcomes were Short Form-36 (SF-36) and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS), Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI-P), and Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS). These measurements were taken before and after the massage intervention.

RESULTS

The massage group demonstrated significant improvements in QOL and its components compared to the usual treatment group (Hedge's g = 0.53 for QOL, ranging from 0.31 to 0.58 for QOL components; p < 0.001). Participants in the massage group also reported significantly lower levels of stress (Hedge's g = 0. 80), anxiety (Hedge's g = 0.47), and depression (Hedge's g = 0.70) than those in the usual treatment group (p < 0.001). Additionally, the massage group had lower levels of pain, fatigue, and spasticity, and better sleep quality compared to the usual treatment group (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Swedish massage can be considered a valuable complementary and alternative treatment alongside conventional medicine for individuals with MS.

Swedish massage as an adjunct approach to Help suppOrt individuals Pregnant after Experiencing a prior Stillbirth (HOPES): a convergent parallel mixed-methods single-arm feasibility trial protocol

BACKGROUND

Women experiencing pregnancy after stillbirth experience high levels of anxiety, fear and depression. Standard antenatal care may be emotionally unsuitable for many women at this time, and there is a lack of evidence on what interventions or approaches to care might benefit these women. Therapeutic massage may assist women after stillbirth by decreasing anxiety, worry and stress.

OBJECTIVE

This paper outlines the objectives, methodology, outcome and assessment measures for the Helping suppOrt individuals Pregnant after Experiencing a Stillbirth (HOPES) feasibility trial which evaluates massage as an adjunct approach to care for pregnant women who have experienced a prior stillbirth. It also outlines data collection timing and considerations for analysing the data.

METHODS

HOPES will use a convergent parallel mixed-methods, single-arm repeated measures trial design in trained massage therapists' private clinics across Australia. HOPES aims to recruit 75 individuals pregnant after a previous stillbirth. The intervention is massage therapy treatments, and participants will receive up to five massages within a 4-month period at intervals of their choosing. Primary quantitative outcomes are the feasibility and acceptability of the massage intervention. Secondary outcomes include determining the optimal timing of massage therapy delivery and the collection of measures for anxiety, worry, stress and self-management. A thematic analysis of women's experiences undertaking the intervention will also be conducted. A narrative and joint display approach to integrate mixed-methods data is planned.

DISCUSSION

The HOPES study will determine the feasibility and preliminary evidence for massage therapy as an intervention to support women who are pregnant after a stillbirth.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

CLINICALTRIALS

gov NCT05636553. Registered on December 3, 2022, and the trial is ongoing.

Nonpharmacologic Therapies for Postoperative Pain in Cardiac Surgery: A Systematic Review

OBJECTIVES

To search for studies that address the efficacy of nonpharmacologic methods for pain relief in adults undergoing cardiac surgeries.

DESIGN

A systematic review registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) under number CRD42020168681.

DATA SOURCE

PubMed, LILACS, CINAHL, the Web of Science, Scopus, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials.

REVIEW/ANALYSIS METHODS

The review used a PRISMA guideline that selected primary randomized controlled trials on the efficacy of nonpharmacologic pain relief therapies in patients undergoing cardiac surgery, with no time or language restrictions. The Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist for Randomized Clinical Trials was used to assess methodological rigor.

RESULTS

After screening, 23 of the 140 studies found in the databases were selected. The studies examined the efficacy of 13 different nonpharmacologic therapies, as well as a combination of therapies, with massage therapy being the most commonly examined, followed by musical intervention and hypnosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Some interventions, when combined with pharmacologic therapy, were effective in relieving postoperative pain after cardiac surgeries, according to the studies analyzed. However, most studies had significant methodological flaws, and further studies with high methodological quality are needed.

Comparing the effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and massage therapy on post laparoscopic shoulder pain: a randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND

Shoulder pain is a common clinical problem after laparoscopic surgeries. The use of non-pharmacological massage and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) as an adjunct to routine treatment is increasing to provide optimal pain relief. Therefore, we aimed to determine the effect of TENS and massage therapy on post laparoscopic shoulder pain (PLSP).

METHODS

This study was conducted on 138 patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Patients were randomly divided into three groups: massage plus conventional pharmacological treatment (n = 46), TENS plus conventional pharmacological treatment (n = 46), and conventional pharmacological treatment (n = 46). Massage and TENS were performed three consecutive times after the patients regained consciousness in the inpatient wards. The intensity of Shoulder pain was evaluated using a visual analog scale before and 20 min after each treatment.

RESULTS

Both massage therapy and TENS led to a significant reduction in the intensity of PLPS compared to the control group in all three measured times (p < 0.001). However, no significant difference was observed between TENS and massage at any of the three-time points.

CONCLUSIONS

This study's findings demonstrated that massage and TENS techniques could reduce PLSP.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Registered in the Iranian registry of clinical trials ( www.irct.ir ) in 05/02/2022 with the following code: IRCT20200206046395N1.

Efficacy of nonpharmacologic interventions in preoperative anxiety: A systematic review of systematic reviews

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

Evidence suggests that preparing patients for surgery using nonpharmacological strategies reduces their anxiety. However, there is no consensus on what the best practices are. This study aims to answer the question: Are interventions using nonpharmacological therapies effective in reducing preoperative anxiety?

BACKGROUND

Preoperative anxiety causes physiological and psychological adverse effects, with a negative effect on postoperative recovery.

INTRODUCTION

According to the World Health Organization, between 266 and 360 million surgical procedures are performed annually worldwide, and it is estimated that more than 50% of patients will experience some degree of preoperative anxiety.

DESIGN

Systematic review of systematic reviews with results of interventions aimed at mitigating preoperative anxiety.

METHODS

A search was conducted for systematic reviews with meta-analyses published between 2012 and 2021 in Medline, Scopus, Web of Science and Cochrane Library. Quality was assessed using the AMSTAR-2 scale. The protocol was registered in PROSPERO.

RESULTS

A total of 1016 studies were examined, of which 17 systematic reviews were selected, yielding 188 controlled trials with 16,884 participants. In adults, the most common intervention included music, followed by massage, in children virtual reality and clowns. Almost all controlled trials reported a reduction in preoperative anxiety after the intervention, of which almost half had statistically significant results.

CONCLUSION

Interventions that include music, massage and virtual reality reduce preoperative anxiety and have shown that they are cost-effective, minimally invasive and with a low risk of adverse effects. Preoperative anxiety can be reduced through a short-term intervention involving nursing professionals as an alternative or complement to drugs.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

This review suggests that nursing professionals, in collaboration with other health professionals, should continue to conduct research on the reduction in preoperative anxiety. Further research in this area is needed, to reduce heterogeneity and consolidate the results.

NO PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION

Not applied to our study, as it is a systematic review of systematic reviews.