The Effect of Shoulder Massage and Therapeutic Touch on Pain and Anxiety After Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

NCT07100015 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: SBFGU
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 74
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This randomized controlled trial compared the effects of shoulder massage and therapeutic touch on pain and anxiety after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Both interventions significantly reduced pain and anxiety levels compared to the control group. Shoulder massage was more effective in reducing pain, while therapeutic touch was more effective in reducing anxiety. These methods are recommended for broader use in clinical practice.

Conditions

Massage Therapy; Pain; Anxiety; Theropathic Touch

Keywords

Pain; anxiety,; laparoscopic cholecystectomy,; massage,; theropathic touch

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• For shoulder pain: Measured with the Visual Analog Scale (VAS).

  Shoulder Pain Intensity Assessed by Visual Analog Scale (VAS)

  four month

• For anxiety: The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) was used.

  State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) Score for Anxiety Assessment

  four month

Study Arms (3)

Control Group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

in which patients did not receive any treatment and received routine postoperative care in the clinic.

Device: Control Group

Therapeutic touch

EXPERIMENTAL

in which therapeutic touch was applied

Device: therapeutic touch

Shoulder massage group

EXPERIMENTAL

in which shoulder massage was applied

Device: Shoulder massage

Interventions

Control Group DEVICE

in which patients did not receive any treatment and received routine postoperative care in the clinic

Control Group

therapeutic touch DEVICE

Therapeutic touch applications

Therapeutic touch

Shoulder massage DEVICE

shoulder massage was applied

Shoulder massage group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Participants were expected to be able to speak Turkish and have normal verbal communication skills.
• They were required to possess normal cognitive abilities and have no psychiatric diagnoses.
• Patients aged between 18 and 70 years.
• Patients undergoing general anesthesia.
• Patients who voluntarily agree to participate in the research

You may not qualify if:

• Patients receiving epidural analgesia post-surgery.
• Patients whose laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) procedure was converted to an open cholecystectomy during the operation.
• Patients experiencing postoperative confusion, requiring intensive care, or developing secondary complications that impair their ability to respond to questions accurately.
• Patients who do not report shoulder pain following surgery.
• Patients in a catabolic state, those aged 70 years or older, individuals with chronic pain or opioid use, and those experiencing severe postoperative symptoms such as excessive nausea, vomiting, bleeding, or infection.
• Patients with surgical drains (e.g., Hemovac) may negatively influence pain levels and sleep quality, thereby interfering with the effectiveness of the intervention.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Giresun University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Giresun Universitesi

Giresun, Piraziz, 28000, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Pain; Anxiety Disorders

Interventions

Control Groups; Therapeutic Touch

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Mental Disorders

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Epidemiologic Research Design; Epidemiologic Methods; Investigative Techniques; Research Design; Methods; Mind-Body Therapies; Complementary Therapies; Therapeutics; Spiritual Therapies

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, INVESTIGATOR
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 14, 2025
• First Posted: August 1, 2025
• Study Start: April 17, 2024
• Primary Completion: May 1, 2024
• Study Completion: June 1, 2024
• Last Updated: August 1, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-07

Locations

TU (1)