Does Hand Massage Have Sustained Effects on Pain Intensity and Pain-Related Interference in the Cardiac Surgery...

Despite the promising short-term pain relief effect of massage, little is known regarding its sustained effects on pain intensity and pain-related interference with functioning.

To evaluate the sustained effect of hand massage on the pain intensity and pain-related interference with functioning of cardiac surgery patients.

A randomized controlled trial.

A medical-surgical intensive care unit in Canada.

Adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery and at low risk for postoperative complications were eligible.

In the intensive care unit, patients were randomly assigned to either 20-minute hand massage, hand holding, or rest. Pain intensity and pain-related interference with functioning were assessed on the second postoperative day.

A total of 60 patients were randomly allocated and 46 completed data collection on the second postoperative day. Although no significant differences were identified across groups, the hand massage group reported a maximum pain intensity (median 5.75, range: 2-10) that was lower than the hand-holding (median 6.50, range: 1-10) and standard care groups (median 6.25, range: 0-10). The hand massage group could reach 0 pain intensity throughout a 24-hour period (median 0, range: 0-7), contrary to the hand-holding (median 2, range: 0-5) and standard care groups (median 2, range: 0-4.5). A trend for statistical significance was noted for dichotomized ratings on pain interference with walking (p = .176) and sleep (p = .050).

Hand massage could help patients experience longer periods without pain and lower levels of maximum pain intensity. When coupled with recovery activities, hand massage could reduce pain-related interference with functioning.