The Effect of Foot Massage on Pain of the Intensive Care Patients: A Parallel Randomized Single-Blind Controlled Trial. (13th June 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Momeni, Masoumeh; Arab, Mansoor; Dehghan, Mahlagha; Ahmadinejad, Mehdi
• Other Names: Sandner-Kiesling Andreas Academic Editor.
• Is Part Of: Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine. Volume 2020(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-06-13
• Subjects: Alternative medicine -- Periodicals; 615.505
• DOI: 10.1155/2020/3450853
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1741-427X

Abstract

Abstract : Background and Purpose . Pain is a common stressor in intensive care units (ICUs) with detrimental consequences in case of no treatment. The current study aimed to compare the effect of foot massage by a nurse or the patient's family on pain of the ICU patients. Materials and Methods . This randomized, parallel, single-blind controlled trial study was performed on 75 ICU patients. Patients were allocated into three groups (massage by a nurse, massage by the patient's family, and control group) by the minimization method. Swedish massage was provided for the patients in experimental groups (each foot for 5 minutes) once a day for six days. The pain was examined in all three groups before, immediately, and one week after the intervention. Results . The mean scores of pain in the groups of foot massage by the patient's family and by a nurse showed a significant reduction at the end of the study (from 4.48 to 3.36 and 4.76 to 2.96, respectively). The control group had significantly more pain after the intervention than the family-based massage group and the nurse-based massage group (P < 0.05 ). Although significant difference was found in the mean scores of pain between the massage provided by a nurse and that provided by the patient's family immediately after the intervention (P < 0.05 ), it was not significant one week after the intervention (P > 0.05 ). Conclusion . Using foot massage, by both nurses and family members can reduce the pain of ICU patients. This intervention may improve the nursing care quality with the least cost and complications.