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BACKGROUND: Constipation is one of the most prevalent problems during old age. Abdominal massage is a complementary method in controlling constipation. This study is conducted with the aim of determining the effect of abdominal massage with extra-virgin olive oil on constipation among the elderly. METHODS: In this single-blind randomized controlled clinical trial, 54 old individuals in Shiraz nursing homes during November 2018-March 2019 were selected randomly and then allocated to three groups of 18, based on block randomization. The first group underwent abdominal massage with olive oil for five consecutive days (each day one time for 15 minutes). The second group underwent abdominal massage with water similar to the first group. No specific intervention was applied to the control group. All three groups received their medical treatment. The constipation scores were examined using constipation assessment scale (CAS) before the intervention and on the sixth day. Data analysis was done through SPSS 22 using Chi-square, paired t-test, and ANOVA. P<0.05 was considered as the level of statistical significance. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences among the three groups before the intervention. The results demonstrated that the mean score of constipation further decreased in the olive oil group (5.62±1.89 to 2.06±0.99) (P≤0.001) than the massage with water (5.05±1.25 to 3.11±0.99) (P=0.02), and the control group (4.44±1.38 to 5.22±1.35) (P=0.006). CONCLUSION: Due to the greater effectiveness of abdominal massage with extra-virgin olive oil, the use of this method is recommended in treatment of constipation among the elderly. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: IRCT20180923041101N.
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BACKGROUND: Diabetes is the most common endocrine disorder. Non-pharmacological methods can be used for treatment of these patients. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of acupressure point on fasting blood glucose and glycosylated levels of diabetic patients. METHODS: This clinical trial was conducted on 102 patients who referred to Motahari Clinic of Shiraz during May-June in 2018. The participants were selected based on simple random sampling and divided into three groups via permuted block randomization. The control group only received the pharmacological treatments. The intervention group received acupressure at ST36 point in addition to medications. The placebo group also received medications and acupressure at a fake point. The intervention was carried out for six minutes (three minutes for each lower extremity), three sessions a week for 12 weeks. Fasting blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin levels were checked in all patients immediately after the intervention. The data were analyzed using Chi-square, paired t-test, and ANOVA by the SPSS statistical software, version 21, and P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The results showed no significant differences among the three groups' blood glucose mean levels before (P=0.89) and after the intervention (P=0.36). However, a significant difference was observed in the intervention group's glycosylated hemoglobin mean levels before (8.61±1.96) and after the intervention (8.1±1.62) (P=0.02). CONCLUSION: In sum, the study indicated that acupressure could only be effective in reducing the glycosylated hemoglobin in the intervention group. Thus, further larger studies are recommended to evaluate the effectiveness of this technique. Trial Registration Number: IRCT20111224008505N47.
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BACKGROUND: Pain on mid sternotomy incision site after Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery (CABG) is a common problem that causes sleep disturbance, delayed wound healing, and increased use of analgesic drugs. Massage therapy which is mostly performed by healthcare providers is a non-pharmacological approach for managing this pain. The present study aimed to determine the effect of massage therapy by patient's companion on the severity of pain in post CABG patients. METHODS: In this randomized single-blind clinical trial, 70 post CABG patients were randomly divided into an intervention and a control group. The intervention group received massage by one of their relatives who was trained by an expert nurse. The control group, on the other hand, received routine care. The pain intensity was assessed by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) before and immediately, 30, 60, and 120 minutes after the intervention. Then, the data were entered into the SPSS statistical software (version 16) and analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA and post-hoc test (Scheffe). RESULTS: At the beginning of the study, no significant difference was found between the two groups regarding the pain severity. In the intervention group, the pain severity significantly decreased in all the four time points after the intervention (P=0.001). However, no significant difference was observed in this regard in the control group. CONCLUSION: Massage therapy by patient's companion trained by a nurse was an effective strategy for pain management in post CABG patients. This could also promote the patient's family participation in the process of care. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: IRCT201208218505N3.
