Effect of Foot Massage on Pain and Anxiety Levels among Patients underwent Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

Anwar Aly, Azza; Mohamed Abdelhamed, Hala; Elsayed Shrief, Sheren; Tawfik Elmanzalawy, Safaa; Ebrahim El. Tahry, Sheren

doi:10.21608/ejhc.2022.254054

Effect of Foot Massage on Pain and Anxiety Levels among Patients underwent Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Assistant Professor of Medical-Surgical Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Damanhour University

² Lecturer of Medical-Surgical Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Mansoura University

³ Assistant Professor of Medical-Surgical Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Beni Suef University

⁴ Lecturer of Community Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Elmenoufia University

⁵ Lecturer of Medical-Surgical Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Port Said University

10.21608/ejhc.2022.254054

Abstract

Background: Insufficient pain treatment in the early stages after laparoscopic cholecystectomy may cause patients to breathe shallowly and quickly because they are afraid of experiencing pain. Pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic complementary therapies such as foot massage can be used to manage pain and anxiety after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Aim: To determine effect of foot massage on pain and anxiety levels among patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Subjects and Methods: Design: A quasi-experimental design was used to achieve the aim of this study. Setting: The study was conducted in the General Surgery Department at Beni-Suef University Hospital. Subject: A purposive sampling technique was used to select a sample of 100 patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy and were assigned into two groups, with 50 patients in each group (the study and control groups). Tools: Three tools were used: (I) demographic characteristics sheet, (II) a numerical pain rating scale, and (III) a State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Results: The current study revealed that there was a highly statistically significant difference and reductions in pain mean scores in study group compared to the control group after foot massage 60^th min with (P= <0.05). Also, the study demonstrated that there was a highly statistically significant difference in anxiety scores in study group after foot massage 60^th min with (P= <0.001). There was a significant positive correlation between pain intensity and state anxiety levels among the patients in study group. Conclusion: Foot massage had statistically significant positive effects on decreased postoperative pain and anxiety mean scores in study group. Recommendations: It is important to apply foot massage as a complementary treatment for patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy as it is influential in decreasing pain and anxiety levels among such group of patients.

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