The effect of slow-stroke back massage on anxiety in female patients with heart failure

Introduction and Ainu- Patients with heart failure experience many physical and psychological symptoms such as anxiety, which reduces their life expectancy. The use of alternative methods of therapy, including slow-stroke back massage (SSBM), can be effective in reducing the symptoms of heart failure. This study aims to investigate the effect of slow-stroke back massage on anxiety in women with heart failure. Methods: In this quasi-experimental study conducted in the Department of Cardiology of Ghaem Hospital (affiliated with the Hamedan University of Medical Sciences) in 2015, 60 patients with heart failure were randomly assigned to the control and intervention groups. Slow-stroke back massage was performed in 7 sessions for 7 consecutive days (one session per day) for 10 minutes in the intervention group. Demographic characteristics and standard anxiety questionnaires Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales (DASS-42). were used to collect the patient data. The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings: The mean of anxiety before intervention in intervention group 28.2 +/- 6.04 and in control group was 27.47 +/- 5.22 and after the intervention in the intervention group was 21.37 +/- 6. and in control group 26.1 +/- 6.27, that showed a significant difference compared with before the intervention (p<0.001). The mean anxiety scores of all participants in the intervention group before and after the intervention was very severe, but after the intervention, its mean anxiety scores decreased. Using Paired t-test, the mean anxiety scores of the control group before and after the intervention was not significantly different (P <0.05). Conclusion: Slow-stroke back massage significantly decreased anxiety in female patients with heart failure.