Effect of Massage Therapy on the Mood and Pain of Post Cardiac Catheterization Patients

Pain is the most important complaint experienced by patients undergoing cardiac catheterization. Many patients consider hospitalization and cardiac catheterization to be psychologically distressing. In recent years, there has been a focus on complimentary therapies to manage or alleviate pain and anxiety. Body massages is one of complimentary therapies and have been tested in different populations and found to have marked effect in decreasing pain and anxiety. Aim: The aim of the study is to examine the effect of massage intervention on the mood and pain of patient after cardiac catheter. Design: A randomized single blind clinical trial design was used. Setting: The study was conducted in in the Coronary Care Unit at King Fahd Hospital of the University in Al-Khobar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Sample: A random sample of 40 adults post cardiac catheterization. Tools: Three tools were used to collect data: tool 1: Demographic and Medical data Sheet, tool 2: The Profile of Mood States (POMS). Tool 3: The McGill Pain Questionnaire. Results: There was a highly significant reduction in pain scores after the sessions of the massage therapy, and there were a highly significant difference between before and after message sessions intervention in relation to all components and total mean score of mood profile. Conclusion: integrating the massage therapy into nursing intervention can enhance the mood and ability state and decreased anxiety, depressions, confusion and pain of patients after cardiac catheterization,. Recommendations: Based on the result of the present study, it can be recommended that further study should be applied in relation to increase the sample of the study in control and experimental group, examine the relationship between illness perceptions and mood across coronary artery disease patients.