PURPOSE
This study aimed to compare the effects of hand massage with the preferred aroma oil to those of hand massage with lavender oil on stress and sleep in residents at a long-term care facility.
METHODS
A group randomized controlled design was used. Of the 37 participants, 19 were assigned to the experimental group(hand massage with the preferred aroma oil) and 18 to the control group(hand massage with lavender oil). Data collection was performed from Nov. 26 2016 to Jan. 27 2017. Hand massage was offered for 5 minutes each side 3 times a week for a total of 12 sessions over 4 weeks. Stress was measured using the Perceived Stress Questionnaire and sleep was measured using the Verran and Snyder-Halpern Sleep Scale.
RESULTS
Subjects in the experimental group showed significantly lower stress levels (physical stress, t=−2.10, p=.048; psychological stress, t=−4.41, p<.001) and sleep (t=3.37, p=.002) than those in the control group.
CONCLUSION
These results suggest that aromatherapy with hand massage should consider client aroma preference for elderly at long-term care facilities in the future.

Citations

• Effects of Non-Pharmacological Sleep Interventions in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
  Hye-Ja Gu, Oi-Sun Lee
  International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.2023; 20(4): 3101.     CrossRef
• The Effect of Lavender on Sleep Quality in Individuals Without Insomnia
  Tzu-Ying Chen, Akiko Hiyama, Masumi Muramatsu, Atsuko Hinotsu
  Holistic Nursing Practice.2022; 36(4): 223.     CrossRef
• The effect of lavender on stress in individuals: A systematic review and meta-analysis
  Tina Ghavami, Mohsen Kazeminia, Fatemeh Rajati
  Complementary Therapies in Medicine.2022; 68: 102832.     CrossRef
• The effect of aromatherapy hand massage on distress and sleep quality in hemodialysis patients: A randomized controlled trial
  Dilek Efe Arslan, Nazan Kılıç Akça
  Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice.2020; 39: 101136.     CrossRef

PURPOSE
This study was to investigate the effects of upper meridian massage on cerebral blood flow, emotions, and sleep of the institutionalized elderly.
METHODS
This study was a nonequivalent control group pre- and post-test design. The participants were 50 elderly (26 in the experimental group; 24 in the control group) living in the institutions. Data were collected between July 9 and September 1, 2011. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, and chi2-test, Repeated Measures ANOVA, and Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Each participant in the experimental group received the upper meridian massage for 10 minutes, 4 times per week for 2 weeks. Each participant's cerebral blood flow and self-reported questionnaires were tested before treatment, after 1 week and 2 weeks during treatment sessions.
RESULTS
There were significant differences in sleep and emotions after 1 week and 2 weeks during treatment sessions. But cerebral blood flow measured by common carotid artery pulsatility index (CCA PI) and common carotid artery resistance index (CCA RI) demonstrated significant differences in 2 week point in time.
CONCLUSION
These results indicated that upper meridian massage could be an effective intervention for improving cerebral blood flow, emotions, and sleep of the institutionalized elderly.

Citations

• Effects of Non-Pharmacological Interventions to Improve the Sleep of Korean Elderly: A Systematic Review
  Yunhee Park, Hyun Jung Yun
  Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing.2022; 29(1): 67.     CrossRef

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of aroma foot reflexology massage on mood states specifically depression and brain waves of elderly women with osteoarthritis.
METHODS
The study was a nonequivalent control group non-synchronized design. The participants were 62 elderly women with osteoarthritis. The instruments were the Korean-Profile of Mood States-Brief for mood states and 8-channel EEG (Electroencephalogram) system for brain waves. Data were collected from March to May, 2012. Twenty-six participants were assigned to the treatment group and twenty-six to the comparison group. The data were analyzed using SPSS/WIN 17.0 version program, and included descriptive statistics, t-test, and ANCOVA. The intervention was conducted three times a week for two weeks.
RESULTS
There were significantly improvement in reported depression. s. Brain waves (EEG) increased significantly in F3, T3 of alpha wave and in F4, T3, and P4 of beta wave between the two groups.
CONCLUSION
Aroma foot reflexology massage can be utilized as an effective intervention to decrease depression of mood states, increase of alpha, and beta brain wave on woman elderly with osteoarthritis.

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of the meridian massage on the hand edema, activities of daily living (ADL), and depression in hemiplegic stroke patients.
METHODS
The research was a quasi-experimental design using a non-equivalent control group pre-post test. The subjects were 40 stroke patients who admitted to rehabilitation department in a hospital. The data was collected from January to March, 2009 used the millimeter measurement for checking hand edema and the structured questionnaires. The meridian massage on affected hand was carried out for 10 minutes per day during 2 weeks to the experimental group. Descriptive statistics, -test, Fisher's exact test, and t-test with SPSS/WIN 12.0 program were used to analyze the data.
RESULTS
After the intervention, there were statistically significant differences in the changes of hand edema, ADL, and depression in the experimental group compared with the control group.
CONCLUSION
The meridian massage was effective in improving hand edema, the level of ADL, and depression for the hemiplegic stroke patients. Therefore the meridian massage can be utilized as an effective adjuvant therapy for stroke patients suffering from hand edema in clinical practice.

PURPOSE
We analyzed climacteric symptoms, bone mineral density (BMD), serum estradiol (E2) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) to identify the health benefits of meridian massage in perimenopausal women.
METHODS
There were 16 women in the experimental group and 17 people in the control group. Meridian massage was performed for 4 weeks, 3 times a week for 20 minutes each session. The data were collected pre-treatment, posttreatment and 4 weeks after treatment. SPSS/WIN 11.5 was used for data analysis.
RESULTS
After meridian massage, there were significant differences in climacteric symptoms (U = 65.50, p = .011) and BMD (U = 65.50, p = .011) between the two groups. The E2 level showed a significant difference between the two groups pre- and posttreatment (U = 75.00, p = .028). FSH showed a significant increase when measured at 4 weeks after the treatment as compared with the amount when measured post-treatment within the control group (z = -2.249, p = .025), experimental group showed a stable change in FSH. but there was no significant difference between the groups.
CONCLUSION
In this study, we confirmed the effects of Meridian massage in decreasing climacteric symptoms, inhibiting the decrease of BMD and stabilizing serum hormone in perimenopausal women. Therefore, it can be considered for use as a nursing intervention for health management in perimenopausal women.

PURPOSE
To examine the effect of back massage on immune response, symptom distress, and mood state of patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allogeneic HSCT).
METHODS
Subjects were thirty-seven patients undergoing sibling allogeneic HSCT (including 16 in the experimental group and 21 in the control group). Experimental subjects participated in an intervention group of back massage for 10 minutes, once a day and 5 times a week, from one week prior to the HSCT to the third week after the HSCT or a control group. A non-equivalent pretest-posttest design was used. t-test and Repeated measures ANOVA were used to examine group differences by using SAS.
RESULTS
No significant group differences were found in Immune response (CD4+, CD8+,CD19+, CD56+) and symptom distress. The experimental group had significantly less mood state (anxiety, confusion) than the control group.
CONCLUSION
The back massage for the patients undergoing allogeneic HSCT may be effective in altering the anxiety and confusion during hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. However, this study did not provide evidence in improving immune response and symptom distress.

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of hand massage on fatigue, sleep satisfaction and blood pressure of the aged in a long-term care facility.
METHODS
The data were collected from June to August 2008. The subjects were randomly recruited from a long-term care facility in Junnam Providence and were randomly assigned to the experimental group (n = 22) or control group (n = 22). Hand massage was carried out every other day in the evening for two weeks. Massage was administered to each forearm and hand for 10 minutes. Descriptive statistics, x2-test and t-test were performed using SAS program.
RESULTS
In the experimental group, the fatigue (p = .017) was significantly lower and the sleep satisfaction (p = .043) was significantly higher than for the control group.
CONCLUSION
On the basis of the results of the study, hand massage can be recommended for the elderly with sleep disturbance to reduce fatigue.

PURPOSE
This study assessed the effectiveness of hand massage on reducing discomfort of patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI). METHODS: The sample consisted of 62 patients admitted to an university affiliated hospital. The 30 patients in experimental group received hand massage developed by Snyder(1995) for 5 minutes on both hands and 32 patients in control group received the usual nursing intervention only. The outcome variable of discomfort was measured 10 minutes before and after the hand massage using Questionnaire and VAS. The data were collected from Feb. 5th to May 17th in 2007, and analysed through Chi-square, and t-test with SPSS WIN 12.0. RESULTS: The level of discomfort measured with the questionnaire was decreased in experimental group, but increased in control group. This discomfort changes in two groups were significantly different(t=4.43, p<.001). The level of discomfort measured with VAS was also decreased in experimental group, but increased in control group. The changes were significant, too(t=5.62, p<.001). CONCLUSION: It was clear that hand massage could be a useful nursing intervention in reducing the discomfort of patients undergoing PCI.

PURPOSE
It was investigated if abdominal meridian massage has effects on constipation in institutionalized psychiatric patients taking antipsychotic drugs.
METHODS
According to the constipation screening tests, 22 patients were selected as subjects. One group pre and post repeated measurement design was used. Constipation was operationalized as perceived constipation, frequency of defecation, frequency of bowel sound, and number of medicine taken to relieve constipation. Abdominal meridian massage was given for two weeks, 10-15 minutes each time and 10 times in total.
RESULTS
Perceived constipation, frequency of bowel sound, and number of medicine taken were significantly improved after massage. Except for number of medicine taken, the effects on perceived constipation and frequency of bowel sound were found to be persistent 2 weeks after massage.
CONCLUSION
Based upon these results, abdominal meridian massage was recommended as independent nursing intervention for the relief of constipation in psychiatric patients who taking anti-psychotic drugs. Further studies to investigate the maximal duration time of effects and whether the effects of intermittent application of this method is more beneficial than the continuous application of this method are necessary.

PURPOSE
The Purpose of this study was to elucidate the effects of aromatherapy massage on the preoperative anxiety of stomach cancer patients.
METHOD
The research design was a nonequivalent control group non synchronized design. The data were collected during the period of October 2 to December 30, 2005 at H Hospital in Seoul. The subjects were 40 patients who were operated under general anesthesia for stomach cancer. State anxiety, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, pulse rate were measured on the day before surgery and the preoperative period. Data were analyzed by chi-square test, independent t-test, paired t-test.
RESULTS
Hypothesis 1 that the level of preoperative state anxiety of the experimental group who received aromatherapy massage is lower than that of the control group who did not received aromatherapy was supported(p=.004). Hypothesis 2 the physiological index of the preoperative anxiety of the experimental group who received aroma-therapy is lower than that of the control group who did not received aromatherapy.
CONCLUSION
According to these results, aromatherapy hand massage can be regarded as a partially effective nursing intervention that relives anxiety of surgical patients and decreases the blood pressure level.

PURPOSE
; This study was aimed to identify the effect of foot reflexology massage on climacteric symptom, fatigue and physiologic parameters of middle-aged women.
METHOD
; A non-equivalent pretest-posttest experimental design was used. Participants were recruited from the Community Health Center in Busan, Korea. Forty participants were assigned to either an experimental group(20) or a control group(20). Foot reflexology massage was administered twice a week for 6 weeks in the participant in experimental group.
RESULTS
There were statistically significant differences in climacteric symptom, fatigue, total cholesterol and cortisol level. However, there were no statistically significant differences in triglyceride, high density lipoprotein and low density lipoprotein.
CONCLUSION
; These results suggest that foot reflexology massage could be utilized as an effective nursing intervention to reduce climacteric symptom and fatigue in middle-aged women.

PURPOSE
This study aims at confirming the effects of the chest meridian massage on the post-anesthetic recovery of general anesthesia appendectomy patients. METHOD: The research was post-test designed as a nonequivalent control group among quasi-experiments tested. The data was collected from June 20, 2003 to October 14, 2003 at a hospital in P city. In the collected data, using SPSS Win 10.0 program, these general features were analyzed by real numbers and percentages; the homogeneity among variables by chi2-test and t-test and the research hypothesis by the t-test. RESULT: Hypothesis 1; The experimental group receiving the treatment of the chest meridian massage will have a much higher post-anesthetic recovery score than that of the control group not receiving it was supported(t=2.544, p=.014). Hypothesis 2; The experimental group receiving the treatment of the chest meridian massage will have a much shorter time of stay in the recovery room than that of the control group not receiving it was supported(t=-4.919, p=.000). CONCLUSION: According to these results, it may be concluded that Chest Meridian Massage is effective in producing a higher level of post-anesthetic recovery score and helps appendectomy patients reduce the time of stay in the recovery room. Therefore the chest meridian massage can be considered as an intervention therapy for directly nursing general anesthesia appendectomy patients.

PURPOSE
To investigate the effects of foot reflexology massage on sleep and fatigue of elderly women. METHOD: The study was performed from April thru July of 2004 on the nonequivalent control group non-synchronized quasi-experimental design. Fifty elderly women were selected for each group. The foot reflexology massage was performed for 45 minutes every three days for experimental group. The data were analyzed using the Cronbach's alpha, Chi-Square test, t-test and Repeated measures ANOVA and Bonferroni. RESULT: 1. The sleep score of the experiment group is significantly higher than that of the control group(t=-5.944, p=.000). 2. For the experiment group, it is seen that the sleep score increases as the frequency of the foot reflexology massage increases(F=96.362, p=.000). 3. The fatigue score of the experiment group is significantly lower than that of the control group(t=4.356, p=.000). 4. For the experiment group, the fatigue is relieved gradually as the frequency of the foot reflexology massage increases(F= 118.444, p=.000). CONCLUSION: Based on the results described above, it is considered that the foot reflexology massage is effective for elderly women in promoting a good sleep and relieving the fatigue.

PURPOSE
This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of foot reflexologic massage on blood pressure and sleep of elderly with essential hypertension. METHOD: This study was employed non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest quasi-experimental design. The subjects were divided into two groups: 20 elders for experimental group and 18 elders for control group. For experimental group, foot reflexologic massage was done three times at three-day intervals. The data analyzed by SPSS version 10.0 program. RESULT: The systolic and diastolic blood pressure after foot reflexologic massage did not show a significant difference between the two groups. In experimental group, there was a significant difference in the systolic(t=3.559, p=.001) and the diastolic blood pressure(t= 3.048, p=.004) that measured after foot reflexologic massage. There was a significant difference(t=2.665, p=.011) in sleep between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that foot reflexologic massage was partially effective to reduce the degree of blood pressure and improve sleep of the elderly with essential hypertension. A follow up research is needed to compare and confirm its long-term effects.

PURPOSE
This study was to identify the effect of Cervical Kyongrak Massage on Shoulder pain, shoulder Exercise Range and Mood in the elderly. METHOD: This study used a quasi- experimental pre-test and post-test design. Data were collected from 13 April to 30 June in 2003. There were 58 elderly subjects,(30 experimental group, 28 control group) in Pusan. The experimental group took Kyongrak Massage at Cervical Kyonghyul sites around neck and shoulder for 10 minutes daily during 5days. RESULT: In the experimental group, shoulder pain(t=-9.80, p=.000), shoulder exercise Range (Flexion t=3.10, p=.003; Abduction t=7.95, p=.000; External Rotation t=5.00, p=.000) and Mood(t=-9.80, p=.000) were significantly better than control group after Cervical Kyongrak Massage. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that Cervical Kyongrak Massage may be an effective adjunct therapy for improving shoulder pain, shoulder exercise range and mood, and is considered as a independent and available nursing intervention for elderly.

PURPOSE
This study was undertaken to investigate the effects of foot reflexo-massage on physical, psychological, and physiological parameters in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. METHOD: This study was employed non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest time series experimental design. The subjects of this study were 47 elderly patients with osteoarthritis of the knee from two different nursing homes in Deajeon. The patients were divided into two groups; 26 patients in experimental group, the rest in control group. Each patient in experimental group received the 30-minute foot reflexo-massage, 3 times per week for 4 weeks. The dependent variables of each patient were measured before treatment, after 2 weeks and after 4 weeks during the treatment session. The collected data was analyzed using the Social Package Social Science(version 10.0) software program. RESULT: There were significant differences in the flexion angle of both knees; the flexion and extension muscle strength of both knees; systolic blood pressure; POMS; plantaris skin temperature and blood velocity of dorsalis pedis artery between the two groups over different the three measurement times. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that foot reflexo-massage could be an effective intervention to improve physical, psychological and physiological parameters for patients with knee osteoarthritis.

PURPOSE
The Purpose of this study was to explain the effects of aromatherapy massage on the preoperative anxiety of hemorrhoidectomy patients, and to provide the effective and holistic nursing care to them. METHOD: The research design was a nonequivalent control group non-synchronized design. The data were collected during the period from November 1 to November 30, 2003 at K-Hospital in Seoul. The subjects were fifty patients who were to have a hemorrhoidectomy under general anesthesia. They were assigned to two groups, 25 subjects to the experimental group and 25 subjects to the control group. The State Anxiety Inventory tool was used to measure state-anxiety on all patients the day before surgery. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and pulse rate were measured on the day before surgery and the preoperative period. The experimental group received aromatherapy massage on the hand with lavender oil. Data were analyzed by x2 test, independent t-test, paired t-test. RESULTS: 1. Hypothesis 1, that the level of preoperative state-anxiety of the experimental group who received aromatherapy massage would be lower than that of the control group who did not received aromatherapy was supported(p=.047). 2. Hypothesis 2was that the Physiological index of the preoperative anxiety of the experimental group who received aromatherapy would be lower than that of the control group who did not received aromatherapy. The 1st subhypothesis that "the level of the preoperative systolic and diastolic blood pressure of the experimental group would be less than that of the control group" was not supported. CONCLUSION: Aromatherapy massage can be regarded as a partially effective nursing intervention that relives the preoperative anxiety of surgical patients and stabilizes vital signs.

PURPOSE
The objective of the study was to identify the effects of the meridian massage therapy on hand edema and hand functions in patients with hemiplegia. METHOD: The experiment was conducted in the Oriental Medical ward of "K" hospital during the period of 2000. 12. 15 - 2001. 03. 15. Fifty five subjects with hemiplegia following a stroke participated in the study. Volumetric size of the hand and the circumference of the index finger of each patient was measured and functional points were recorded for pre and post experiment. RESULT: 1. Apparent decrease in volumetric size of the hand and the circumference of the index finger(p=.022. p=.021), and higher functional points(p=.003) in the experimental group in comparison to the control group. 2.Volume of hands & their functions appeared to be irrelevant(r=-.195, p=.154). 3. Circumference of the index finger & their functions also turned out to be irrelevant (r=-.110, p=.424). CONCLUSION: Meridian massage is an effective nursing interventional therapy to relieve hand edema and improve hand functions in hemiplegic patients and has great potential for use in a wide range of medical fields as an efficient supplementary treatment for stroke rehabilitation.

More and more non-injured operations are being implemented these days, thanks to the development of medical technology. Still, however, most operations leave direct scars on patient' bodies, as well as accompanying pain. The massage as an independent nursing intervention can stimulate the circulation of the blood of tissue and muscle and increase the relationship between a patient and a nurse. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of foot massage on pain in post abdominal operative patients. The nonequivalent control group, pre-post test design is used for this study. From July 7, 2000 to February 20, 2001, the 40 patients who were operated under general anesthesia in a university hospital in Seoul were studied. They were divided into two groups ; 20 patients were part of the experimental group, and the others, in the control group. In order to evaluate the effect of foot massage, severity of pain was checked with the VAS (Visual Analog Scale) and also each patients' vital signs were measured with pulse rate, systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure. The collected datas were processed by SAS version 6.12 program and analyzed by the Chi-square, Fisher?s exact test, t-test and repeated measures ANOVA. The results of this study were as follows. 1. The severity of pain decreased significantly in the experimental group as compared to the control group following foot massage (t= -3.317, p= .002). 2. Measured vital signs in the experimental group had more reduction of that than in the control group following foot massage. -The pulse rate in the experimental group was lower than that in the control group following foot massage (F=7.73, p=.008). -The systolic blood pressure in the experimental group was lower than that in the control group following foot massage (F=25.75, p=.000). -The diastolic blood pressure in the experimental group was lower than that in the control group following foot massage (F=15.27, p=.000). In conclusion, foot massage is an effective dependent nursing intervention for pain control of post abdominal operative patients.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a hand massage program on anxiety, vital sign and pain in clients with ischemic heart disease. The design utilized for this study was quasi-experimental with a nonequivalent control group non-synchronized design The subjects were fifty-four patients, twenty-eight for the experimental and twenty-six for the control group, who were admitted with ischemic heart diease at a cardiac intensive care unit in K medical center of K university. This study was carried out from May, 1999 to March, 2000. The level of anxiety and pain measured by Visual Analogue Scale, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and pulse rate were measured before and after hand massage, the state of Anxiety was measured by the Spielberger (1970) scale at admission and after hand massage for three days. The collected data were processed by using the SPSS PC program and analyzed using X2 -test and t-test. The result of this study are as follows: 1. The scores of VAS anxiety and State of anxiety of the experimental group were lower than those of the control group. 2. The degree of systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and pulse rate of the experimental group were lower than that of the control group. 3. The score of VAS pain of the experimental group was lower than that of the control group. The results suggested that hand massage can decrease VAS anxiety, State of anxiety, vital signs and VAS pain of patients who were admitted with ischemic heart disease at cardiac intensive care unit Therefore, it is proposed that hand massage is an appropriate nursing intervention to relieve anxiety of the patients who were admitted with ischemic heart disease at a cardiac intensive care unit.