title: The effect of massage therapy by patients' companions on severity of pain in the patients undergoing post coronary artery bypass graft surgery: a single-blind randomized clinical trial.
abstract: 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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  IRCT201208218505N3.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Surgical Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran;
authors.forename: Sied Saeed
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Najafi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Surgical Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran;
authors.forename: Fazlola
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rast
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Surgical Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran;
authors.forename: Marzieh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Momennasab
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery, Nemazee Teaching Hospital , School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran;
authors.forename: Mahmood
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ghazinoor
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Surgical Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran;
authors.forename: Fereshteh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dehghanrad
authors.affiliation: Social Determinants Health Research Center, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, Iran.
authors.forename: Sied Ali
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Mousavizadeh
keywords: Companion; Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surger; Massage Therapy; Pain