The Effectiveness of Massage Therapy on Depression, Anxiety and Stress of Patients after Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery

Introduction & Many of the patients after cardiac surgery have anxiety and depression due to surgical stress and this has a negative effect on their quality of life and follow-up their treatment protocol. Thus، the aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of massage therapy on Depression، Anxiety and stress of patients after coronary artery bypass surgery. This was a clinical trial study. In this study 72 patients (from 165 patients)، who were underwent coronary artery bypass surgery were selected. This study was performed in the period of December 2010 up to May 2011 in Isfahan''s Chamran hospital. Then، the patients were randomly assigned to the two case and control groups. The patients of the case group (n= 36) received Light Pressure Stroking massage for 20 minutes in 12 sessions in 4 consecutive weeks after the surgery. The patients in control group received only the routine care. The patient''s depression، anxiety and stress were measured before and after the intervention with DASS 42 Questionnaire. SPSS software، version 18، and descriptive and inferential statistical methods were used for data analysis. Mean (SD) scores for depression، anxiety and stress before the intervention in the case group were 21. 6 (6. 6)، 14. 4 (6. 6) and 25 (6. 5) and in the control group were 24. 1 (6. 2)، 18. 5 (8. 4) and 27. 8 (8. 4) respectively; that did not show a significant difference (P > 0. 05). After the intervention، scores for depression، anxiety and stress in the case group، were 12. 6 (7. 1)، 8. 2 (4. 9) and 14. 2 (8) and in the control group were 23. 9 (6. 8)، 17. 9 (8. 7) and 27. 3 (8. 3) respectively; that showed a significant difference (P)