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Pediatrics massage evidence map
Priscilla Araújo Duprat de Britto Pereira1, Carmem Veronica Mendes Abdala2, Caio Fabio Portella1
1Brazilian Academic Consortium for Integrative Health (CABSIn), Brazil.
Insights
Pediatric massage, a gentle tactile therapy, shows positive effects on neuro-motor development, growth, and stress disorders in children. This evidence map visualizes research on complementary therapies for better healthcare decisions.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric complementary and alternative medicine research.
- Evidence-based practice in pediatrics.
Background:
- Pediatric massage is a gentle, systematic tactile stimulation used in complementary therapy for children.
- Research on pediatric massage interventions and their health outcomes is growing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe pediatric massage intervention research reporting health outcomes.
- To create a visual evidence gap map for accessible information on pediatric massage effectiveness.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the 3iE evidence gap map methodology.
- Searched four electronic databases, including systematic and non-systematic reviews up to November 2019.
- Analyzed systematic reviews using AMSTAR 2 and visualized data with Tableau.
Main Results:
- The map includes 38 reviews, with most published in the last decade.
- Pediatric massage was the most researched intervention, with outcomes showing 11 high, 13 moderate, and 14 low confidence levels.
- Positive effects were observed in 28 outcomes, including neuro-motor development, growth, and stress disorders, particularly in high-quality studies.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric massage is applied across various health areas.
- The Evidence Gap Map offers a clear visualization of research findings for patients, practitioners, and managers.
- Promotes the use of evidence-based complementary therapies in pediatric care.
Background:
This evidence map describes Pediatrics Massage intervention research reporting health outcomes. Massage is a complementary therapy and can be defined as any form of systematic tactile stimulation by human hands, the type of massage typically used in pediatrics care is a gentle, slow stroking of each part of the body in turn.
Methods:
The evidence map is based on the 3iE evidence gap map methodology. We searched four electronic databases from inception to November 2019 and included systematic reviews and non-systematic reviews. Systematic reviews were analyzed based on AMSTAR 2. We used tableau to graphically display confidence level, number of reviews, outcomes and a broad estimate of effectiveness.
Results:
The map is based on 38 reviews. Most of the reviews were published in the last ten years. The Pediatrics Massage was the most researched intervention. Massage was evaluated as an intervention in several health outcomes, resulting in the following confidence levels: 11 high, 13 moderate and 14 low. Every outcome effect was classified: 6 as no effect; 1 mixed and 28 as positive. The outcomes were divided into four major groups: physical and metabolic effects; vitality, well-being and quality of life, mental health; and management. High quality studies presented no effect and positive effects, highlighting outcomes related to neuro-motor development (Badr et al., 2015; Bennett et al., 2013; Vickers et al., 2015), growth (Badr et al., 2015; Bennett et al., 2013; Vickers et al., 2015) and stress disorders (Bennett et al., 2013; Vickers et al., 2015).
Conclusions:
Pediatrics massage has been applied in different areas and these Evidence Gap Map provides an easy visualization of valuable information for patients, health practitioners and managers, in order to promote evidence-based complementary therapies.
