Ucuzal, M., & Kanan, N. (2014). Foot massage: Effectiveness on postoperative pain in breast surgery patients. Pain Management Nursing , 15, 458–465.
To determine the effect of foot massage on pain after breast surgery and to provide guidance for nurses in nonpharmacologic interventions for pain relief
Patients were placed in the control or experimental group. The control group only received pain medications. In addition to receiving pain medications, the experimental group was given a 20-minute foot massage at the first complaint of pain. Pain and vital signs were assessed 5, 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes after the first complaint of pain in both groups. The time periods were in sync between groups in regard to the first complaint of pain.
Quasi-experimental, nonrandomized, controlled, comparison study
Foot massages with conventional pain medications can be effective in decreasing pain in patients after breast surgery. Nurses can easily use foot massage in patients without risk factors to decrease their pain. Nurses should provide nonpharmacologic techniques such as foot massage to decrease pain in patients after breast surgery.
Foot massage could be a practical addition to conventional pain management strategies to assist nurses in controlling postoperative pain. Foot massage is efficient, taking little time and costing little money. The initial cost of training could be quickly off set by the increase in patient satisfaction and better pain control. Including massage training in nursing schools would decrease the cost to institutions. Additional research in the use of massage in other patient populations is needed to help quantify massage as a pain management technique and nursing standard.