The Effects of Early Postoperative Heat Application and Abdominal Massage on Gastrointestinal Function

This randomised controlled trial was designed to determine the effect of early-stage heat application and abdominal massage on patients' gastrointestinal function and mental well-being following hip fracture surgery.

The study's hypotheses are as follows:

H0: Heat application and abdominal massage administered in the early postoperative period have no effect on gastrointestinal function or mental well-being.

H1: Heat application in the early postoperative period affects gastrointestinal function and mental well-being.

H2: Abdominal massage administered in the early postoperative period has an effect on gastrointestinal function and mental well-being.

The Patient Information Form, Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS) and Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale will be administered. Starting from the morning of the first day after surgery, patients will receive abdominal massage and heat application twice daily, in the morning and evening, for three days. The warm compress and abdominal massage will be performed consecutively. The total application time will be 30 minutes, consisting of 15 minutes of warm compress and 15 minutes of abdominal massage. Abdominal massage will be performed on patients in the experimental group using the 'abdominal massage application guidelines'. Abdominal massage involves techniques such as effleurage (stroking and spreading), petrissage (kneading) and vibration. After each application of massage, the patient's bowel sounds and movements will be listened to using a stethoscope. Before applying heat and performing the abdominal massage, care will be taken to ensure that the patient does not need to urinate, and that the room is quiet and at a suitable temperature. Patients in the experimental group will not be given laxatives, suppositories or enemas for three days; only heat application and massage will be performed during this period. During this period, researchers will assess the defecation of patients using the Bristol Stool Scale. At the end of the three-day follow-up period, patients will be asked to complete the Bristol Stool Scale, the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale and the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale.