Dilek Öztürk, Aysel Gürkan
Clinical and Experimental Health Sciences - 2025;15(3):695-704
Objective: This study aimed to determine the effect of abdominal massage on post-colonoscopy abdominal distension, pain, comfort, and patient satisfaction. Methods: The randomized controlled study was conducted with 166 patients who underwent colonoscopy without sedation. No intervention was applied to the control group (n= 83). The experimental group (n= 83) received an abdominal massage for 15 minutes on the day of colonoscopy (day 0), after the procedure, in the evening on day 0, and in the morning and evening on day 1. Abdominal distension, pain, comfort and satisfaction were assessed with Visual Analogue Scale. Results: In the experimental group, abdominal distension and pain level decreased and comfort level increased after abdominal massage compared to the pre-massage level (p<.01). In addition, compared to the control group, the abdominal distension and pain level of the patients in the experimental group were substantially lower, and their abdominal comfort level and satisfaction with the procedure were substantially higher (p<.01). Conclusion: Abdominal massage after colonoscopy reduced abdominal distension and pain, increased abdominal comfort and patient satisfaction with the procedure.
