Effect of effleurage massage versus warm application on shoulder pain among postoperative women with gynecological laparoscopic surgery

Abstract

Background and objective: Laparoscopic surgery has become a widespread operation for treatment of uncomplicated symptomatic abdominal pathologies. Gynecological laparoscopic procedures are often associated with shoulder pain that may cause more discomfort to the women than the pain at the site of incision. Relive of shoulder pain is an essential goal of gynecological nurse. Its management could be pharmacological or non-pharmacological methods. Among the non-pharmacological approaches are the use of effleurage massage and warm application. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of effleurage massage versus warm application on shoulder pain among postoperative women with gynecological laparoscopic surgery.

Methods: Design: A comparative non-randomized controlled clinical trial was utilized in the present study started by the beginning of September 2018 and continued until the end of January 2019. Setting: This study was carried out in the laparoscopic unit at the Elshatby Maternity University Hospital in Alexandria. Subjects: A convenience sample of 80 women who were available at the time of data collection were recruited from the above mentioned setting. Tools: Tool I: Socio-demographic and clinical data structured interview schedule. Tool II: Visual analog scale (VAS), Tool III: physiologic and behavioral response to pain sheet (PBRPS), Tool IV: A modified version of Johansson Pain-o-meter (JPOM).

Results: The study results revealed that shoulder pain intensity was statistically significant before and after intervention among the massage and warm application groups (p = .000). It was also statistically significant between the two groups after intervention (p = .000), where a sizeable proportion of the effleurage massage group (70%) experienced no pain, compared to only 25% of the warm application group.

Conclusions: The current study suggests that massage group induces less shoulder pain intensity than the other modality.