Effects of Effleurage Massage on Intensity of Physiological Stress Associated with the Treatment in Hemodialysis Patients

Despite many advances in medical technology still, many patients are faced with physiological stress associated with hemodialysis treatments. That causes severe side effects inpatients on them. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of effleurage massages as a non-drug approaching on intensity of physiological stress associated with treatment in hemodialysis patients. This Clinical-Trial study was conducted on 41 patients treated with hemodialysis (n= 20 test), and (n= 21 controls) in dialysis Centre of Imam Khomeini Hospital in Tehran. Instruments were demographic questionnaire and hemodialysis stress scale (HSS) stress was recorded before and during the intervention in both groups. Massage therapy was performed in the test group for 12 sessions (20 min). Data were analyzed using SPSS software with Mann-Whitney, Chi-square, Friedman and sign test. The significance level was (0.05). Demographic data did not differ between two groups (P<0.05). Intensity of physiological stress associated with the treatment gradually decreased during the 4-weeks in experimental group. However, these changes were not observed in the control group, After the intervention reduced all physiological stress associated with the treatment in the intervention group (P>0.05). While the change in the control group were not statistically significant (P<0.05). Effleurage massage is effective in reducing Intensity of physiological stress associated with the treatment in hemodialysis patients. It is recommended that this procedure be done on a wider range of dialysis patients to determine the definite effect.