Effect of Preoperative Abdominal Effleurage on Postoperative Constipation

NCT07344532 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: MOzkeskin7126
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 42
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief Summary

This randomized controlled study aims to evaluate the effect of preoperative abdominal superficial effleurage training on the development of postoperative constipation in patients undergoing abdominal surgery. Participants will be randomly assigned to an intervention group receiving abdominal superficial effleurage training in addition to routine care or to a control group receiving routine care only. The effleurage technique will be taught preoperatively and performed by patients postoperatively. Postoperative constipation will be assessed on the 10th postoperative day using the Bristol Stool Form Scale. The findings of this study are expected to contribute to non-pharmacological nursing interventions for the prevention of postoperative constipation.

Conditions

Constipation; Abdominal Surgery; Postoperative Constipation

Keywords

Postoperative Constipation; Abdominal Surgery; Abdominal Effleurage; Non-Pharmacological Intervention

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Postoperative Constipation

  Postoperative constipation will be assessed using the Bristol Stool Form Scale through a telephone interview conducted on the 10th postoperative day. Stool types 1 and 2 will be considered indicative of constipation.

  10 days postoperatively

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Stool Consistency

  10 days postoperatively

Study Arms (2)

Abdominal Superficial Effleurage Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this group will receive preoperative training on abdominal superficial effleurage in addition to routine clinical care. Following surgery, patients will perform the effleurage technique for approximately five minutes, one to three times daily, during periods without pain.

Behavioral: Abdominal Superficial Effleurage Training

Control Group

NO INTERVENTION

Participants in the control group will receive routine clinical care only and will not receive abdominal superficial effleurage training during the study period.

Interventions

Abdominal Superficial Effleurage Training BEHAVIORAL

Abdominal superficial effleurage is a gentle abdominal massage technique involving stroking movements from the right upper quadrant toward the left lower quadrant of the abdomen. Participants will be trained preoperatively to perform the technique, which will take approximately five minutes per session and will be performed one to three times daily postoperatively during pain-free periods.

Abdominal Superficial Effleurage Group

Eligibility Criteria

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

You may qualify if:

• Patients scheduled to undergo abdominal surgery
• Patients who are able to communicate verbally
• Patients who agree to participate in the study and provide written informed consent

You may not qualify if:

• Patients with preoperative constipation
• Patients with known gastrointestinal diseases affecting bowel motility
• Patients who are unable to perform abdominal superficial effleurage
• Patients with cognitive impairment or communication difficulties
• Patients who refuse to participate in the study

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Ege University: lead

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Constipation

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Signs and Symptoms, Digestive; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

• Mehmet Ozkeskin, PhD

  Ege University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Mehmet Ozkeskin, Associate Professor

CONTACT

+90 505 663 18 33; mehmet.ozkeskin76@gmail.com

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Associate Professor

Model Details: Participants will be randomly assigned to either an intervention group receiving preoperative abdominal superficial effleurage training in addition to routine care or a control group receiving routine care only.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 7, 2026
• First Posted: January 15, 2026
• Study Start: March 10, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): July 10, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): September 10, 2026
• Last Updated: January 27, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-01

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share