Skip to main content
OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT07296679

The Effect of Hand Massage on Anxiety and Comfort of Bariatric Surgery Patients: A Randomised Controlled Trial

This study was conducted to determine the effect of hand massage on anxiety and comfort levels in bariatric surgery patients.

Completed

Looking for future studies?

Notify Me

Key information

Conditions

Hand Massage Anxiety Anxiety Disorders Mental Disorders

Age range

35 year–53 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Firat Universty

Elâzığ, 23119, Turkey (Türkiye)

About this study

This study was conducted to determine the effect of hand massage on anxiety and comfort levels in bariatric surgery patients. This randomised controlled trial was conducted in the General Surgery Clinic of a University Hospital in eastern Turkey with all adult patients undergoing bariatric surgery between September 2024 - March 2025. The sample consisted of 90 randomised patients who received hand massage and received only routine care. Data were collected using the Patient Information Form, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), General Comfort Scale-Short Form (SGCQ).

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Aged 18 or older
  • Not having a speech problem or hearing loss
  • Not having any condition that would reduce comprehension and understanding abilities
  • Agreeing to participate in the study
  • Having a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30.

Exclusion criteria

  • Having compromised tissue and skin on the forearm or hands (e.g., wounds, eczema, inflammation, phlebitis, arthritis, and rashes)
  • Having an intravenous catheter in the back of the hand.

Treatment and study plan

experimental group

Other

Upon admission to the General Surgery clinic, patients were apprised of the study's objective, and their written and verbal agreement was acquired. Prior to the preoperative hand massage, the Patient Information Form, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and Short Form General Comfort Questionnaire (SGCQ) were administered to the patients in the general surgery clinic's patient room via face-to-face interviews. The patient rooms were single-occupancy, naturally lit, windowed, calm, quiet, and located within the clinic. Immediately before surgery, classic massage techniques including petrissage, friction, and kneading were applied to both hands for 10 minutes using baby oil on the palms, backs of the hands, and fingers. The hand massage was performed while the patient was in bed. The application lasted approximately 25 minutes. After the hand massage, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and General Comfort Scale-Short Form (SGCQ) were administered to the patients as post-test.

Other names: Procedure/Surgery

Primary outcomes

  1. State Anxiety Inventory (STAI)

    Time frame: two weeks

    The scale was developed by Spielberger et al. Reliability and validity were carried out by Öner and Le Compte. The scale consists of two sub-units that measure anxiety separately, but in this study, the state anxiety scale that the individual feels indirectly from the stressful situation will be used. It is a 4-point Likert-type scale consisting of 20 items and short statements. The total score obtained from the scale varies between 20 and 80, and a high score indicates a high level of anxiety.

Secondary outcomes

  1. General Comfort Scale-Short Form (SGCQ)

    Time frame: two weeks

    It was developed by Kolcaba to determine the comfort requirements of the individual. The Turkish validity and reliability study of the scale was conducted by Sarıtaş et al. In the evaluation of the scale, negative items (items 2, 3, 7, 9, 11, 18, 20, 21, 23, 24, 27) are reverse coded and summed. This 6-point Likert-type scale consisting of 28 items consists of three sub-dimensions: refreshment (1-9 items), relaxation (10-18 items) and superiority (19-28 items). The lowest score that can be obtained from the scale is 28 and the highest score is 168. As the score obtained from the scale decreases, it indicates that the comfort level of the individual is low.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Firat University

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2024
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2025
First posted
Dec 22, 2025
Registry last updated
Dec 22, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Related clinical trials

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.