{"title":"Effect of Massage and Touch on Agitation in Dementia: A Meta-Analysis.","authors":"Xiaotong Liu, Lili Zang, Qiuying Lu, Yue Zhang, Qinghui Meng","doi":"10.1111/jocn.17674","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aims and objectives: </strong>To systematically assess the effects of massage and touch on agitation in patients with dementia and to determine the optimal intervention design.</p><p><strong>Background: </strong>Agitated behaviour is the most common behavioural symptom in patients with dementia and can seriously affect the health status and quality of life of individuals with dementia and their caregivers. Massage and touch have been widely used as a non-pharmacological intervention to address the behavioural issues of dementia. However, current research findings on the effects of massage and touch on agitation in people with dementia are inconsistent.</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>A meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This meta-analysis complied with PRISMA guidelines, and relevant literature up to January 2024 was systematically retrieved from PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, the Clinical Trials Registry, Cochrane Library and four Chinese databases. Statistical evaluations were performed utilising Review Manager 5.4, and the included studies' bias risks were assessed with the Cochrane Collaboration tool.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Seventeen randomised controlled trials involving 980 patients with dementia were included. The results of the meta-analysis showed that massage and touch could ameliorate agitation and behaviour problems in dementia. Subgroup analyses based on massage type showed that hand, head and foot massage significantly improved agitation. Massage and touch for ≤ 4 weeks were more effective in reducing agitated behaviour than those for > 4 weeks. Furthermore, subgroup analysis revealed that massages and touch were more effective for individuals with less severe dementia.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Massage and touch in the short term can effectively improve agitation in dementia patients, while hand, head and foot massage can effectively reduce agitation. Thus, clinical nursing staff and caregivers of individuals should be actively helped to apply massage and touch to their patients. However, more studies are needed to validate our results before we can give a more definitive recommendation.</p><p><strong>Relevance to clinical practice: </strong>This study suggests that massage and touch can be used as complementary treatments for agitation in people with dementia and encourages nursing staff and caregivers to apply massage and touch to better cope with the agitated behaviour of older adults with dementia.</p><p><strong>Patient or public contribution: </strong>No patient or public contribution.</p><p><strong>Trial registration: </strong>PROSPERO registration number: CRD42024507133.</p>","PeriodicalId":50236,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Clinical Nursing","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2000,"publicationDate":"2025-02-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Clinical Nursing","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.17674","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"NURSING","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Aims and objectives: To systematically assess the effects of massage and touch on agitation in patients with dementia and to determine the optimal intervention design.
Background: Agitated behaviour is the most common behavioural symptom in patients with dementia and can seriously affect the health status and quality of life of individuals with dementia and their caregivers. Massage and touch have been widely used as a non-pharmacological intervention to address the behavioural issues of dementia. However, current research findings on the effects of massage and touch on agitation in people with dementia are inconsistent.
Design: A meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.
Methods: This meta-analysis complied with PRISMA guidelines, and relevant literature up to January 2024 was systematically retrieved from PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, the Clinical Trials Registry, Cochrane Library and four Chinese databases. Statistical evaluations were performed utilising Review Manager 5.4, and the included studies' bias risks were assessed with the Cochrane Collaboration tool.
Results: Seventeen randomised controlled trials involving 980 patients with dementia were included. The results of the meta-analysis showed that massage and touch could ameliorate agitation and behaviour problems in dementia. Subgroup analyses based on massage type showed that hand, head and foot massage significantly improved agitation. Massage and touch for ≤ 4 weeks were more effective in reducing agitated behaviour than those for > 4 weeks. Furthermore, subgroup analysis revealed that massages and touch were more effective for individuals with less severe dementia.
Conclusions: Massage and touch in the short term can effectively improve agitation in dementia patients, while hand, head and foot massage can effectively reduce agitation. Thus, clinical nursing staff and caregivers of individuals should be actively helped to apply massage and touch to their patients. However, more studies are needed to validate our results before we can give a more definitive recommendation.
Relevance to clinical practice: This study suggests that massage and touch can be used as complementary treatments for agitation in people with dementia and encourages nursing staff and caregivers to apply massage and touch to better cope with the agitated behaviour of older adults with dementia.
Patient or public contribution: No patient or public contribution.
期刊介绍：
The Journal of Clinical Nursing (JCN) is an international, peer reviewed, scientific journal that seeks to promote the development and exchange of knowledge that is directly relevant to all spheres of nursing practice. The primary aim is to promote a high standard of clinically related scholarship which advances and supports the practice and discipline of nursing. The Journal also aims to promote the international exchange of ideas and experience that draws from the different cultures in which practice takes place. Further, JCN seeks to enrich insight into clinical need and the implications for nursing intervention and models of service delivery. Emphasis is placed on promoting critical debate on the art and science of nursing practice.
JCN is essential reading for anyone involved in nursing practice, whether clinicians, researchers, educators, managers, policy makers, or students. The development of clinical practice and the changing patterns of inter-professional working are also central to JCN''s scope of interest. Contributions are welcomed from other health professionals on issues that have a direct impact on nursing practice.
We publish high quality papers from across the methodological spectrum that make an important and novel contribution to the field of clinical nursing (regardless of where care is provided), and which demonstrate clinical application and international relevance.
求助内容：
应助结果提醒方式：
京公网安备 11010802042870号
