Effect of Swedish Hand Massage on Pain in Patients Undergoing CABG Surgery

Effect of Swedish Hand Massage on Pain in Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery: Randomized Controlled Trial

Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG) surgery is performed commonly today. Heart surgery performed on more than two million individuals every year leads patients experience severe postoperative pain for causes such as cutting of intercostal nerves along the incision line, pleural irritation caused by thoracic catheters etc. Hand massage, which is one of the non-pharmacological methods, is an effective procedure that can be applied independently by nurses for pain management. The objective of this randomized controlled study is to investigate the effect of hand massage applied to the patients with CABG surgery during the postoperative intensive care process, on pain.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients who underwent CABG surgery,
• Stated that they were in pain,
• 18 years old and older,
• Had not completed 48 hours after the surgical procedure,
• Accepted to participate in the study verbally and in writing after being informed about the study,
• Could understand the information given,
• Could read, write and speak Turkish,
• Did not have any physiological, psychological or mental problems that would prevent verbal communication,
• Did not have any limb, vascular problem, wound or catheter that would prevent the application of hand massage,
• were ASA classified as I and II,
• Had no previous hand massage experience,
• Did not participate in any other clinical studies during the same period,
• Did not develop any complications during and after the surgical procedure,
• Physiological parameters were within normal limits during the surgical procedure,
• Received the same type of treatment in the post-surgical period,
• Body mass index was within normal limits

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients who have complications during or after surgical intervention,
• Intubated,
• Have any limb, vascular problem, wound or catheter that prevents hand massage,
• Under the effect of pharmacological or non-pharmacological interventions that will affect pain,
• Obese (body mass index (BMI≥30),