The Effect of Hand and Foot Surface Stroke Massage on Pain Intensity and Anxiety Level in Hospitalized Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Background: Considering the high prevalence of cardiovascular diseases, angiography is important for diagnosis of diseases, pain, and fatigue following complete bed rest after percutaneous coronary intervention.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of hand and foot surface stroke massage on pain intensity and anxiety level in hospitalized patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Methods: This clinical trial was conducted on 70 patients with acute coronary syndrome referred to Hajar Hospital, Shahrekord, Iran. The patients were randomly divided into an intervention and a control group (n = 35 for each). Anxiety level was measured using Spielberger’s Anxiety Inventory. Additionally, pain intensity was assessed by a visual analog scale 30 min before and 15 min after the intervention. The data were entered into the SPSS software and were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics (t-test, paired t-test, and chi-square test).

Results: Descriptive statistics included frequency and percentage for qualitative variables and mean ± Standard Deviation (SD) for normally distributed quantitative variables. The results revealed a significant decrease in the mean intensity of pain and the mean level of anxiety in the intervention group five minutes after massage. However, no significant difference was observed in this regard in the control group after the intervention. Additionally, no significant difference was observed between the two groups in terms of pain intensity and anxiety level before the intervention (P ≤ 0.05).

Conclusions: Hand and foot massage was useful as a part of a nursing intervention in attenuating the pain intensity and decreasing the anxiety level in the patients with acute coronary syndrome.