KR. Faurot, SA. Gaylord, JD Mann
Increasingly, research is demonstrating the safety, efficacy, and patient satisfaction
associated with use of nonpharmacological, complementary interventions for pain
management in hospital settings. One such intervention, massage, has been found to
be effective for pain and anxiety reduction in limited forms, such as described here,
massage is relatively easy to learn and apply. The pilot project was designed to develop
and assess a clinical intervention using hand and foot massage for management of pain and
anxiety in inpatients on a rehabilitation unit. Methods included formal training of staff
nurses in hand and foot massage and subsequently having them teach key family caregivers
of the patient how to deliver hand or foot massage in response to reports of pain
and anxiety. The report describes study rationale, project development, challenges to
implementation in an academic, tertiary care, inpatient rehabilitation facility, and lessons
learned for future project design and implementation. The need for a community-based
participatory research perspective is addressed.
Complementary Health Practice Review 2007; 12; 203- abstract
DOI: 10.1177/1533210107307154
Filed under: family caregiver, Massage Therapy, pain management, Research
