Evaluation of Touch Massage on Anxiety in Critically Ill Patients

Evaluation of Touch Massage on Anxiety in Critically Ill Patients : a Randomised Controlled Trial Study (REaLAX)

Anxiety is a common problem encountered in a about 43 % of critically ill patients. Its occurrence can be related to several causes, mainly dominated by invasive procedures.

anxiety management is typically based on a combination of prevention, evaluation, and therapeutic agents. However, it appears important to develop adjuvant approaches. Touch massage is one of them and that has been evaluated in various medical conditions.

The aim of our study is to evaluate the anxiolytic effect of touch massage in critically ill patients during potentially painful nursing procedures.

Inclusion Criteria:

• All adult patients (age≥18 years) hospitalized in Intensive Care Unit > 24 h
• Requiring mechanical ventilation or not
• Securité Sociale affiliated
• Patient with accessible zone for touch massage (head-face, arms-hands, feet, legs and back)
• No significant event (invasive procedure, diagnostic ad, CAT,MRI) before enrollment

Exclusion Criteria:

• Pregnant
• Legal guardianship
• Neurological failure : stroke ischemic or hemorrhagic, meningitis, status epilepticus,polytrauma( including head trauma),meningo encephalitis, meningism,
• Patient with upper limbs neuromuscular disorders
• Cutaneous lesion (zone of touch massage)
• Temperature ≥ 38,5°C
• A positive score of CAM ICU scale
• Patient refuse to participate