Massage TherapyNCT05555082
Can Massage During One Year Improve Health in Health-care Providers Working in Hospital
A study testing Massage in people with Massage Therapy and Health-care Workers, run by University Hospital, Linkoeping at 2 sites in Sweden.
Trial summary
The overall aim of this pilot study is to investigate the effect, "feasibility" and experiences of regular massage over 12 months on the mental and physical health of healthcare professionals, as well as the frequency of layoffs, sick leave and reported patient safety risk cases, as well as health economics Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Any ageHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Massage Therapy, Health-care Workers, Quality of Life
- What is being tested?
- Massage
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 25 participants
- Where
- 2 sitesSweden
- Study dates
- 20 Nov 2022to 1 Mar 2024
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages Any age
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Working at least for 50 % of fulltime
- Main task working with patient care in the hospital ward
Who cannot join
- -
Trial locations and contacts
2 sites in 1 country.
Sweden2 sites
Peter Johansson
Norrköping, Linköpings Universitet, 601 74
Linkoping University
Norrköping, 601 74
About this study
The overall aim of this pilot study is to investigate the effect, "feasibility" and experiences of regular massage over 12 months on the mental and physical health of healthcare professionals, as well as the frequency of layoffs, sick leave and reported patient safety risk cases, as well as health economics
Read the detailed description
A pilot and "feasibility" study with pre-post design. 50 health care professionals from the Medical Clinic, Vrinnevi Hospital in Norrköping are included. The participants perform 10 30 minute sessions of classic Swedish massage during 12 months by a certified masseur. Mental and physical health data is collected using questionnaires, blood and body weight. Data on layoffs, sick leave and patient safety risks are taken from the hospital's data register. Data regarding the participants' experience of receiving massages is collected during interviews.
- Being tested
- Massage
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
MassageOther
10 times of 30 minutes Swedish classical Massage will be given monthly during one year. The massage will be give by a cerified masseur
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Massage | Experimental | 30 minutes of classical swedish massage given by a certified masseur 10 times monthly during 12 months Receives: Other: Massage |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Symptoms of Stress
The Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10) is a 10-item self-report questionnaire measuring perceived stress during the past month. Total scores range from 0 to 40, with higher scores indicating greater perceived stress (i.e., worse outcome).
Measured: Baseline (start of massage) and 12 months (end of massage)
Secondary outcomes (4)
Symptoms of Anxiety
The Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) is a 7-item self-report questionnaire assessing anxiety symptoms during the past two weeks. Each item is rated from 0 ("not at all") to 3 ("nearly every day"), giving a total score from 0 to 21. Higher scores indicate greater anxiety severity (worse outcome).
Measured: Baseline (start of massage and 12 months (end of massage).
Sleeping Problems
The Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) is a 7-item self-report questionnaire assessing the nature, severity, and impact of insomnia during the past two weeks. Scores range from 0 to 28, with higher scores indicating more severe insomnia.
Measured: ISI mean score from baseline (start of massage) to12 months (end of massage).
Symptoms of Depression
The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) is a 9-item self-report questionnaire assessing depressive symptoms during the past two weeks. Scores range from 0 to 27, with higher scores indicating greater depression severity.
Measured: PHQ-9 mean score from baseline (start of massage) to 12 months (end of massage).
Health Related Quality of Life
The RAND-36 Health Transition item asks respondents to rate their health compared with one year ago. Scores are transformed to a 0-100 scale. Higher scores indicate better perceived change (better outcome).
Measured: RAND-36 halth transition from baseline (start of massage) to 12 months (end of massage).
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted26 Sep 2022
- Study start20 Nov 2022
- Primary completion1 Mar 2024
- Study completion1 Mar 2024
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, outcome measures and adverse events reported by the sponsor.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Massage TherapyStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Model description
- 50 health care professionals will receive massage monthly during 12 months. Massage will not be given during summer holiday. Thus, 30 minutes of massage will be given 10 times.
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 25 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University Hospital, Linkoeping
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Peter Johansson, University Hospital, Linkoeping
- Investigators
- Peter Johansson, Professor, Principal investigator, Linköpings Universiet
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05555082
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2020-01140
- Status last verified
- Dec 2025
- First submitted
- 15 Sep 2022
- Last updated
- 18 Dec 2025
- Results posted
- Yes, on ClinicalTrials.gov
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: At our university we have not yet any plan on how to deal with GDPR and sharing data.
Publications
Westas M, Ekstrom L, Sandqvist J, Wahlin C, Andersson G, Johansson P. Feasibility of classic massage for Swedish nurses: a mixed methods pre-post-test design study. BMC Complement Med Ther. 2026 Mar 26;26(1):131. doi: 10.1186/s12906-026-05356-9.
PubMed 41882685
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 18 Dec 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Can Massage During One Year Improve Health in Health-care Providers Working in Hospital
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05555082
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 2020-01140
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 25 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University Hospital, LinkoepingUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 20 Nov 2022 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 Mar 2024 (actual)
- Study completion
- 1 Mar 2024 (actual)
- First posted
- 26 Sep 2022 (actual)
- Results
- Posted 18 Dec 2025
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The overall aim of this pilot study is to investigate the effect, "feasibility" and experiences of regular massage over 12 months on the mental and physical health of healthcare professionals, as well as the frequency of layoffs, sick leave and reported patient safety risk cases, as well as health economics
Detailed description
A pilot and "feasibility" study with pre-post design. 50 health care professionals from the Medical Clinic, Vrinnevi Hospital in Norrköping are included. The participants perform 10 30 minute sessions of classic Swedish massage during 12 months by a certified masseur. Mental and physical health data is collected using questionnaires, blood and body weight. Data on layoffs, sick leave and patient safety risks are taken from the hospital's data register. Data regarding the participants' experience of receiving massages is collected during interviews.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
- Model description
- 50 health care professionals will receive massage monthly during 12 months. Massage will not be given during summer holiday. Thus, 30 minutes of massage will be given 10 times.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Massage | Experimental | Other: Massage30 minutes of classical swedish massage given by a certified masseur 10 times monthly during 12 months |
Who may qualify
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Working at least for 50 % of fulltime
- Main task working with patient care in the hospital ward
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- -
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Massage10 times of 30 minutes Swedish classical Massage will be given monthly during one year. The massage will be give by a cerified masseur | Other | Massage |
Primary outcome
Symptoms of Stress
Time frame: Baseline (start of massage) and 12 months (end of massage)
The Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10) is a 10-item self-report questionnaire measuring perceived stress during the past month. Total scores range from 0 to 40, with higher scores indicating greater perceived stress (i.e., worse outcome).
4 secondary outcomes
Symptoms of Anxiety
Time frame: Baseline (start of massage and 12 months (end of massage).
Sleeping Problems
Time frame: ISI mean score from baseline (start of massage) to12 months (end of massage).
Symptoms of Depression
Time frame: PHQ-9 mean score from baseline (start of massage) to 12 months (end of massage).
Health Related Quality of Life
Time frame: RAND-36 halth transition from baseline (start of massage) to 12 months (end of massage).
Results and safety
Loading the posted results from ClinicalTrials.gov…
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 18 Dec 2025.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, baseline, all outcome measures and adverse events.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 41882685Westas M, Ekstrom L, Sandqvist J, Wahlin C, Andersson G, Johansson P. Feasibility of classic massage for Swedish nurses: a mixed methods pre-post-test design study. BMC Complement Med Ther. 2026 Mar 26;26(1):131. doi: 10.1186/s12906-026-05356-9.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. At our university we have not yet any plan on how to deal with GDPR and sharing data.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Peter Johansson, Professor principal investigator
Linköpings Universiet
2 sites in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Massage in people with Massage Therapy and Health-care Workers, run by University Hospital, Linkoeping at 2 sites in Sweden.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 2 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 18 Dec 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 2 sites in Sweden. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 18 Dec 2025). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Symptoms of Stress (time frame: Baseline (start of massage) and 12 months (end of massage)). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT05555082, which also lists 1 linked publication.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 18 Dec 2025.