The Effectiveness of Slow-Stroke Back Massage on Hospitalization Anxiety and Physiological Parameters in School-Age Children: A Randomized Clinical Trial Study

Alia Jalalodini; Manijeh Nourian; Kiarash Saatchi; Amir Kavousi; Mahnaz Ghaljeh

doi:10.5812/ircmj.36567

The Effectiveness of Slow-Stroke Back Massage on Hospitalization Anxiety and Physiological Parameters in School-Age Children: A Randomized Clinical Trial Study

Iran Red Crescent Med J. 2016 Aug 8;18(11):e36567. doi: 10.5812/ircmj.36567. eCollection 2016 Nov.

Authors

Alia Jalalodini¹, Manijeh Nourian², Kiarash Saatchi³, Amir Kavousi⁴, Mahnaz Ghaljeh⁵

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, IR Iran; Community Nursing Research Center (CNRC), Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, IR Iran.
² Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
³ Acupuncture Specialist, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
⁴ Faculty of Industrial Safety, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
⁵ Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, IR Iran.

Abstract

Background: The outcomes of hospitalization anxiety are mental health disorders. One of the methods of anxiety reduction is massage, which can cause reduction of pain and changes in physiological parameters.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effects of slow-stroke back massage (SSBM) on hospitalization anxiety and physiological parameters in school-age children.

Methods: This clinical trial study included 80 school-aged children from Ali Ebne Abi Taleb hospital, located in Zahedan, who were selected using sequential sampling and randomly divided into two groups: a massage group (40) and a control group (40). Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire and the state-trait anxiety inventory for children (STAIC). Subjects in the massage group received SSBM, using sesame oil, for 3 days. Massage was given three times a day, and each massage session lasted for 15 - 20 minutes. Physiological parameters and hospitalization anxiety were determined from the second to fifth days. T-test and Chi-square were used for analysis data.

Results: There was a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05) between the mean of systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressures (DBP), and pulse rate (PR) in the massage group prior to intervention (97.05 ± 20.7, 60.35 ± 16.69 and 95.45 ± 13.02 respectively) and on the fifth day (88.32 ± 16.58, 55.95 ± 12.7 and 90.45 ± 15.1 respectively). However, no difference was observed in mean respiratory rate (RR) in the massage group from the second day (17.55 ± 3.6) to fifth day (17.62 ± 3.27) (P = 0.096). The mean of state of anxiety, which was 36.4 ± 5.1 before intervention, was reduced by the fifth day to 31.2 ± 5.1 in the massage group (P < 0.0001, t = 5.2).

Conclusions: The results suggest that massage reduced hospitalization anxiety, PR, and BP. Therefore, we propose that nurses can use massage to reduce anxiety in school-age children in hospital. This method has no side-effects and is easily applicable.

Keywords: Anxiety; Blood Pressure; Hospitalization; Massage; Pulse Rate; School-Age Children.