The journal of nursing research : JNR
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
A comparison of massage effects on labor pain using the McGill Pain Questionnaire.
The purpose of this study was to describe the characteristics of pain during labor with and without massage. Sixty primiparas in labor were randomly assigned to either a massage or control group and tested using the self-reported Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ) at 3 phases of cervical dilation: phase 1 dilation (3-4 cm), phase 2 dilation (5-7 cm), and phase 3 dilation (8-10 cm). ⋯ The results of this study indicate that, although massage cannot change the characteristics of pain experienced by women in labor, it can effectively decrease labor pain intensity at phase 1 and phase 2 of cervical dilation during labor. Nurses and caregivers could consider using massage to help laboring women through the labor pain.