The effect of back massage applied to mothers in the early postpartum period on comfort, pain, anxiety and physiological parameters

Aim: This study was conducted to examine the effect of back massage applied to mothers in the early postpartum period on comfort, pain, anxiety and physiological parameters. Material and Method: The sample of the single-blind randomized controlled study consisted of 72 women, 36 in the intervention group and 36 in the control group. Research data were collected between 12 December 2022 and 12 December 2023 with the Personal Information Form, Postpartum Comfort Scale (PPCS), Visual Analog Scale (VAS), State Anxiety Scale (SAS), Trait Anxiety Scale (TAS), Physiological Parameters Form (PPF). The intervention group received a 20-minute back massage at the 3rd hour after normal birth, and the control group received routine nursing care. Descriptive statistical methods, t test in dependent and independent groups, Mann-Whitney U test, Wilcoxon test, McNemar Chi-square Test were used in the analysis of the data. Results: After the application, there was an increase in the comfort score average and a decrease in the pain and anxiety score averages of the women in the intervention group, however, the difference between the pretest-posttest PPCS, VAS, SAS, TAS score averages in the intervention and control groups was not found to be statistically significant (p>0.05). In the intervention group, the intra-group difference in the pretest (37.44±8.05) and posttest (34.86±6.71) State Anxiety Scale score averages was found to be statistically significant (p<0.05). The difference between the posttest diastolic pressure and respiratory rate averages in the intervention and control groups was found to be statistically significant (p<0.05). The posttest means of the intervention group were found to be 65.36±8.86 for diastolic pressure, 22.58±2.66; the posttest means of the control group were found to be 70.94±9.76 for diastolic pressure, 24.64±3.44. The within-group difference in the pretest and posttest means of diastolic pressure and pulse/heart rate of the intervention group was found to be statistically significant (p<0.05). Conclusions: Back massage applied to primiparous women who gave birth normally increased the comfort and oxygen saturation parameters; It was found that it reduced the parameters of pain, anxiety, systolic pressure, diastolic pressure, pulse/heart rate, fever/body temperature, and respiratory rate, but the significant difference was in diastolic pressure and respiratory rate. It is recommended that further studies be planned with different populations and a larger number of participants regarding the effects of back massage on comfort, pain, anxiety and physiological parameters in the early postpartum period. Keywords: Pain, anxiety, postpartum, physiological parameters, comfort, massage