The effect of massage on pain, vital signs and comfort level of patients with septoplasty surgery

This experimental study was carried out to investigate the effects of post-operative massage applied to the neck, back, upper and lower extremities with a massage device, which has a mild heat spreading, rubbing and kneading feature, on the pain level, respiratory rate, pulse rate, SpO₂ and blood pressure values and comfort level of patients who had septoplasty surgery carried out for the purpose. The population of the study consisted of patients who had septoplasty surgery in Istanbul Training and Research Hospital Ear Nose and Throat Service in 2022, and the sample consisted of 50 cases and 50 control groups. Patient Information Form, Patient Evaluation Form, Numerical Pain Evaluation Scale, General Comfort Scale, massager, footed vital meter, pulse oximeter were used to collect the data of the study. Data analyzes of the research were performed using the SPSS 28 package program in computer environment, using frequency tables, descriptive and correlational statistics to interpret the findings. The 5th, 30th, and 60th minute SpO₂ values at the massage of the patients participating in the study were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than the control group, and the systolic pressure values at the 30th and 60th minutes of massage were significantly higher than the control group (p < 0.05). The pulse rate before the massage, at the 5th, 30th and 60th minutes of the massage was significantly higher than the control group (p < 0.05) and the pain intensity at the 30th and 60th minutes of the massage was significantly higher than the control group (p < 0.05) physical comfort, psychospiritual comfort, environmental comfort, and total comfort score were found to be significantly higher than the control group (p < 0.05). In the study, socio-cultural comfort score did not differ significantly (p > 0.05) between the case and control groups. The diastolic pressure values before the massage, at the 5th, 30th, and 60th minutes of the massage did not differ significantly (p > 0.05) between the case and control groups. The respiratory rate before the massage, at the 5th, 30th and 60th minutes of the massage did not differ significantly between the case and the control group (p > 0.05). The effects of post-surgical massage on vital signs, pain intensity and comfort level increase the quality of nursing care procedures. For this reason, it was recommended that the study be conducted with a larger population and that nurses should use non-pharmacological methods in addition to pharmacological methods. It is recommended to conduct more in-depth research on this subject. Keywords: Nursing, Septoplasty Surgery, Massage, Vital Signs, Pain, Comfort.