The effect of expressive touch and music applied after lumbar disc hernia surgery on pain, vital signs, and near-i̇nfrared spectroscopy (NIRS) values

Aim: The research was carried out to determine the effects of expressive touch and music applied after lumbar disc herniation (LDH) surgery on pain, vital signs, and near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). Material and Method: The research was designed as a simultaneous mixed method. The population of the study, which was conducted between September 2019 and July 2022, consisted of patients who had LDH surgery at İnönü University, Turgut Ozal Medical Center. Thirty-two of 132 (44: expressive touch, 44: music, 44: control) patients included in the study with the power analysis were included in the qualitative study sample. Patient Information Form, numerical pain scale, Physiological Parameters Follow-up Form, and Semi-Structured Interview Form were used to collect data. Expressive touch and music interventions were repeated 3 times postoperatively, and pain, vital signs, and NIRS values were recorded before and after the interventions. Pre-test and post-test were applied to the patients in the control group at the same time as the experimental group. Shapiro-Wilk, Chi-square, Kruskal Wallis-H, Friedman, One-Way Analysis of Variance, and Dunn tests were used in the analysis of the data, as well as the mean, standard deviation, number, percentage, median tests. Thematic analysis was performed in the analysis of qualitative data. Results: It was determined that expressive touch and music provided a significant decrease in the pain levels of the patients compared to the control group (p<0.001). It was found that expressive touch and music did not make a significant difference in body temperature and heart rate (p>0.05), while they created a significant difference in respiration, blood pressure, saturation, and NIRS values (p<0.001). It was determined that music was more effective than expressive touch on pain and NIRS values. As a result of the interventions, the patients stated that they were relieved. Conclusion: After lumbar disc hernia surgery, it was determined that expressive touch and music were effective in reducing the level of pain, keeping vital signs within physiological limits, and increasing NIRS values.