Effectiveness of Sitz Bath Massage on Postoperative Pain, Anxiety and Mood Stated in Patients with Hemorrhoidectomy

Objectives: This study was designed to evaluate the effects of sitz bath massage on postoperative pain, anxiety, and mood states in patients with hemorrhoidectomy as a nonequivalent control group pre-post test design. Methods/Statistical Analysis: Forty-four patients with hemorrhoidectomy were followed post-operatively: 23 subjects in the experimental group who received sitz bath massage, and 21 in the control group who taken only sitz bath. A Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was used to measure pain and anxiety, while the Korean Profile of Mood States-Brief (K-POMS-B) was used utilized to evaluate mood states. The data were analyzed by χ2-test, t-test, and repeated measure ANOVA. Findings: While the experimental group showed no significant difference in pain, there was significant difference in the experimental group in terms of anxiety. The experimental group showed significant difference in mood states compared to the control group. Sitz bath massage could be regarded as an effective nursing intervention for decreasing and relieving post-operative anxiety and mood status. Improvements/Applications: Sitz bath massage has been shown to be an effective intervention for hemorrhoidectomy. These findings could be used in nursing and midwifery practices and future relevant research.