| Learning Objective #1: Discuss the concept of comfort as a goal for nursing for persons near end of life | |||
| Learning Objective #2: Discuss the effects of twice-a-week hand massage for persons near end of life |
The problem addressed by this experimental pilot study was to find non-invasive, non-pharmacological, inexpensive, and easy-to administer nursing interventions that enhance holistic comfort and reduce physical symptoms for patients near end of life. In this study, guided by Kolcaba’s Comfort Theory, hand massage was given twice a week for three weeks by trained nurses. The comparison group received the intervention once at the end of the study. Also at the end of the study, both groups received a pamphlet about how professional and nonprofessional caregivers can perform the intervention. Through collaboration with three hospice agencies, participants who met the inclusion criteria of K score of 40 or greater were recruited. Then, after signing informed consent, they were randomized into treatment or control groups. Both groups completed the Hospice Comfort Questionnaire and Symptom Distress Scale weekly for three weeks. The first data collection point in the treatment group was prior to receiving the intervention. Seventeen persons (9 men and 23 women) with an age range from 37 to 72.7 completed the study. Analysis with repeated measures multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) found that there were no significant differences on comfort between the two groups with this small sample size. However, the means on the HCQ revealed that both groups decreased on comfort at Time 2, but the treatment group score increased at Time 3 while the comparison group continued to decrease. Symptoms of physical distress remained flat for both groups over the three time points. Trends offer preliminary rationale to repeat the study with a larger sample. Hand massage is a simple, comforting intervention that every one can do. Anecdotal data revealed that most persons really liked the intervention and persons giving hand massage also felt a strong connection to recipients.
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