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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.
Complementary Therapies in Medicine
|September 3, 2021
Summary
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.
