An interventional study of Abdominal Massage in Abdominal Massage, Enteral Nutrition and Nasogastric Feeding, sponsored by Maltepe University. Completed at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-10-22.
Sponsored by Maltepe University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Supportive care
This study aimed to evaluate whether abdominal massage could reduce abdominal pain, constipation, and gas/bloating in patients receiving enteral nutrition through a nasogastric tube after surgery for head and neck cancer.
A total of 70 patients participated in this randomized controlled trial. Participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups. The intervention group (35 patients) received abdominal massage for 15 minutes twice daily over three consecutive postoperative days, in addition to routine nursing care. The control group (35 patients) received routine nursing care without abdominal massage. Abdominal pain, constipation, and gas/bloating were assessed using standardized measurement tools. Assessments were performed twice daily, in the morning and evening, during the first three postoperative days.
The study was conducted to investigate whether abdominal massage could be a useful non-drug nursing intervention for managing gastrointestinal symptoms in patients recovering from head and neck cancer surgery.
Patients undergoing surgery for head and neck cancer may experience difficulties with oral intake and require enteral nutrition through a nasogastric tube during postoperative recovery. Gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal pain, constipation, gas, and bloating may occur during enteral feeding and can negatively affect patient comfort and recovery.
Abdominal massage is a non-pharmacological nursing intervention that may help stimulate intestinal motility, support bowel function, and relieve gastrointestinal discomfort. Although abdominal massage has been investigated in various patient populations, evidence regarding its effects in patients receiving enteral nutrition following head and neck cancer surgery remains limited.
This single-center, parallel-group randomized controlled trial was conducted in the Otorhinolaryngology Department of Istanbul University, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine Hospital, Türkiye, between October 2024 and August 2025.
The study included 70 patients who underwent head and neck cancer surgery and received enteral nutrition through a nasogastric tube. Participants were allocated to an intervention group (n = 35) or a control group (n = 35) using simple randomization. Patients in the intervention group received abdominal massage in addition to standard postoperative treatment and nursing care. The massage was administered by the researcher nurse for 15 minutes twice daily, in the morning and evening, over three consecutive postoperative days. Each session was performed 30 minutes after bolus enteral feeding. Patients in the control group continued to receive standard postoperative treatment and nursing care without abdominal massage. Gastrointestinal symptoms were evaluated using the Numeric Rating Scale for pain intensity, the Constipation Assessment Scale, and the Gas/Bloating Scale. Measurements were obtained twice daily during the first three postoperative days, resulting in six assessment time points. The study was designed to determine whether abdominal massage could provide a practical, non-invasive, and non-pharmacological approach to managing gastrointestinal symptoms in patients receiving enteral nutrition after head and neck cancer surgery. The findings may contribute to the development of supportive nursing interventions for postoperative symptom management in oncology care.
2,403 studies on the registry are indexed under Head and Neck Neoplasms; 559 are open to participants now.
This study's enrollment of 70 is above the median of 47 across 1,791 interventional studies indexed under Head and Neck Neoplasms.
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Participants assigned to the control group (n = 35) received standard postoperative treatment and routine nursing care following head and neck cancer surgery. All participants received enteral nutrition through a nasogastric tube. No abdominal massage was administered to this group. Gastrointestinal symptoms, including abdominal pain, constipation, and gas/bloating, were assessed twice daily over three consecutive postoperative days using the same measurement tools and assessment schedule as the intervention group.
Abdominal massage was administered by the researcher nurse to patients receiving enteral nutrition through a nasogastric tube following head and neck cancer surgery. The intervention consisted of 15-minute massage sessions performed twice daily (morning and evening) for three consecutive postoperative days. Each session was performed 30 minutes after bolus enteral feeding. Abdominal massage was provided in addition to standard postoperative treatment and routine nursing care.
Other: Abdominal Massage
Abdominal massage was administered by the researcher nurse to patients receiving enteral nutrition through a nasogastric tube following head and neck cancer surgery. The intervention consisted of 15-minute massage sessions performed twice daily (morning and evening) for three consecutive postoperative days. Each session was performed 30 minutes after bolus enteral feeding. Abdominal massage was provided in addition to standard postoperative treatment and routine nursing care.
Abdominal Pain Intensity
Abdominal pain intensity was assessed using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst imaginable pain). Higher scores indicate greater pain intensity.
Time frame: Twice daily (morning and evening) on postoperative days 1, 2, and 3 (six assessments over three days).
Constipation Severity
Constipation was assessed using the Constipation Assessment Scale (CAS). Total scores range from 0 to 16, with higher scores indicating greater constipation severity.
Time frame: Twice daily (morning and evening) on postoperative days 1, 2, and 3 (six assessments over three days).
Gas and Bloating Severity
Gas and bloating symptoms were assessed using the Gas/Bloating Scale. Higher scores indicate greater symptom severity.
Time frame: Twice daily (morning and evening) on postoperative days 1, 2, and 3 (six assessments over three days).
Plan to share: No
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Ran from Oct 2024 to primary completion in Aug 2025, 10 months.
Of 412 non-industry interventional studies with no phase under Head and Neck Neoplasms, half reached primary completion within 34 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 18 and three quarters within 67. This study's 10 months is below that.
Counting every sponsor, half of 427 studies reached it within 34 months; a quarter within 18 and three quarters within 64.
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From the registry record's own update history. This site started tracking changes on Sep 25, 2026; for anything earlier, see the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
This study is completed, as verified in Oct 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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Maltepe University