Gentle massage to reduce pain among people over the age of 85 in nursing homes – a pilot study

Background

With a growing population of old people, care needs will increase as many will suffer co-morbidity with severe symptoms such as pain. Pain is the most common symptom yet, to a great extent unrecognized and untreated in this population. Pain is described to be overwhelming, debilitating, difficult to diagnose and affecting quality of life.

Aim

To evaluate the effects of gentle massage among old people suffering from co-morbidity and pain living in nursing homes.

Preliminary results

Stimulation of CT fibers through gentle massage may normalize physiological parameters, reduce pain and increase quality of life in the intervention group compared to the control group.

Clinical implication

A positive result will give strength to the evidence that massage is a method helping to relieve pain and improve quality of life among old people with pain at nursing homes.

Metod

A controlled multicenter study collecting both quantitative and qualitative data, including 90 participants (45/45).

Analysis
Non-parametric and parametric statistical analysis and qualitative content analysis.

Inclusion criterion
People ≥ 85 years, ≥ 2 diagnosis, experience pain, providing informed consent, read and write Swedish language. Exclusion criterion; cognitive dysfunction due to pharmaceutical treatment and/or palliative sedation.

Data will be collected in both groups concerning; age, gender, diagnosis, social status, medication, various symptoms (ESAS), pain (POM), sleep (MISS) and anxiety and depression (HADS).

Studiesätt

Massage group will receive hand or foot massage three time a week for three weeks while the control group will receive care following the principles of each nursing home. Intervention group will register blood pressure and heart rate before and after the massage sessions and control group three times/week.

Both groups will be interviewed concerning experiences of gentle massage with focus on pain. Patients´ charts will be evaluated for use of medication at baseline and after one month.