Clinical Research Directory

Effect of Abdominal Massage Training Provided to Caregivers on Constipation Management

Sponsor: HAMİYET KIZIL

Summary

Constipation is a common and uncomfortable problem among patients receiving palliative care. Alongside usual treatment and nursing care, abdominal massage may help manage constipation. Teaching caregivers how to perform this massage may also help them feel more confident in supporting the patient. This study aims to evaluate the effects of abdominal massage training for caregivers on patients' constipation, caregiver burden, and caregivers' confidence in contributing to patient self-care. Patients and their primary caregivers will participate together. Both patients and caregivers must be aged 18 years or older. Patients must have constipation, have been hospitalized in a palliative care unit for at least two weeks, and have no clinical condition that prevents abdominal massage. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. Caregivers in the intervention group will receive a single 45-minute training session that includes an explanation and a practical demonstration of abdominal massage. They will also receive a training booklet. After training, caregivers will perform abdominal massage for 15 minutes in the morning and 15 minutes in the evening, three days per week, for two weeks. Patients will continue receiving their usual treatment and care. Patients and caregivers in the control group will continue with usual treatment and care during the study. Control-group caregivers will be offered abdominal massage training after their study participation is completed. Patients' constipation severity and stool form, as well as caregivers' burden and confidence in contributing to patient self-care, will be assessed at the start of the study and on Days 7 and 14. Ethical approval has been obtained from the University of Health Sciences Hamidiye Ethics Committee for Interventional Research Not Involving Drugs or Medical Devices. Institutional permission has been obtained from the study hospital before data collection. Written informed consent has been obtained from patients and caregivers. Participation is voluntary, and personal information will be kept confidential.

Official title: The Effect of Abdominal Massage Training Provided to Caregivers on Constipation Management in Palliative Care Patients and Their Caregivers

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