Benefits of massage therapy for hospitalized patients: a descriptive and qualitative evaluation.
BACKGROUND
Some acute and long-term care facilities are instituting massage therapy programs to support their patients' health, healing, and quality of life. Evaluation of the impact of these programs from the perspective of patients, providers, and therapists is important for administrative decision making and the design of future outcomes research.


OBJECTIVE
To uncover and elucidate a range of patient outcomes of a therapeutic massage program within an acute care setting.


METHODS
Descriptive and qualitative evaluation. Surveys and narrative reports were completed by 70 patients, 14 healthcare providers, and 4 massage therapists.


METHODS
A large university hospital.


METHODS
113 hospitalized patients received 1 to 4 massages during the course of their hospital stay.


METHODS
Massage therapy.


METHODS
Narrative data were coded into 8 categories (pain, sleep, tension/anxiety, body awareness, physical functioning, psychological support, enhancing healing, and value). Selected patient responses were included to elaborate the meanings of these categories.


RESULTS
The most frequently identified outcomes were increased relaxation (98%), a sense of well-being (93%), and positive mood change (88%). More than two thirds of patients attributed enhanced mobility, greater energy, increased participation in treatment, and faster recovery to massage therapy. Thirty-five percent stated that benefits lasted more than 1 day.


CONCLUSIONS
The study supported the value of this hospital-based massage therapy program and uncovered a range of benefits of massage therapy for hospitalized patients that should be studied further.
University of Colorado Health Sciences Center School of Nursing in Denver, USA.
M C
MC
Smith
M A
MA
Stallings
S
S
Mariner
M
M
Burrall
D003120:Colorado; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006760:Hospitalization; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008405:Massage; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome