Effect of Abdominal Massage on Palliative Care Patients

Introduction: Constipation is defined as infrequent defecation or difficulty in evacuation. Although the constipation problem is mostly self-managed by the patients, 22% mostly refer to primary health care providers (>50%), resulting in large expenditures for diagnostic tests and treatments. According to studies conducted in our country, the incidence of constipation varies between 22-40%, while it is stated that the prevalence of constipation in hospitalized patients is 79%. Annual medical costs due to constipation are estimated to exceed 230 million dollars. Pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods are used in the management of constipation, which is one of the most common symptoms in the hospital. The use of non-pharmacological methods is recommended due to the possibility of side effects and cost of pharmacological methods. However, the prevalence of use of non-pharmacological methods in the clinic is low. Nurses need to have knowledge about non-pharmacological methods in order to manage the problem of constipation, which is one of the most common symptoms in the hospital. Abdominal massage, which is included in the Nursing Interventions Classification (NIC), is an application performed with manipulations such as pressure and rubbing on certain points on the body to reduce pain, provide relaxation and relaxation, prevent and reduce nausea, and prevent constipation.

Objective: This study was planned to examine the effect of abdominal massage on the management of constipation in palliative care patients.

Method: The project will be carried out in a state hospital in Bartın, between 01.09.2021 and 01.09.2022, in the palliative care service, with patients over 18 years of age, without a history of gastrointestinal cancer, history of abdominal surgery or abdominal hernia, and hospitalized for at least 7 days. Palliative care patients hospitalized in Bartın State Hospital in the last 1 year will form the universe. Sample calculation will be made with G power analysis and the participants will be divided into experimental and control groups with block randomization. The patients in the experimental group will be given abdominal massage in the morning and evening every day for 1 week and the defecation status of the patients will be compared. The data will be recorded in the data collection form prepared in line with the literature. The data will be used in the patient identification form, Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale, Constipation Evaluation Scale, Bristol Stool Consistency Scale. The collected data will be evaluated using the SPSS program.

Conclusion: With this project, the incidence of constipation in palliative patients will be determined and the knowledge and skills of nursing students on how to apply abdominal massage, which is one of the nursing practices, will increase. With their practice in this study, they will play an active role in the management of constipation in palliative patients, and they will be able to perform this practice in patients in various services throughout their education and professional lives.

Inclusion criteria

• Volunteering
• Being over 18 years old
• No history of gastrointestinal cancer, history of abdominal surgery or abdominal hernia
• At least 7 days of clinical treatment

Exclusion criteria

• Patient information form
• Gastrointestinal system rating scale
• Constipation assessment scale
• Bristol stool consistency scale