Abdominal MassageHNC-AMNCT07889011
Effect of Abdominal Massage on Gastrointestinal Symptoms After Head and Neck Cancer Surgery
A study testing Abdominal Massage in people with Abdominal Massage and Enteral Nutrition, run by Maltepe University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
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. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Abdominal Massage, Enteral Nutrition, Nasogastric Feeding
- What is being tested?
- Abdominal Massage
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 70 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 30 Oct 2024to 30 Aug 2025
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
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 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Aged 18 years or older.
- Underwent head and neck surgery.
- Able to communicate in Turkish.
- Receiving inpatient treatment and nursing care.
- Receiving enteral nutrition through a nasogastric tube.
- No symptoms of diarrhea.
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- No physician-diagnosed chronic constipation.
- Conscious and oriented to person, place, and time.
- No contraindications to abdominal massage, including inflammatory bowel disease, abdominal tumors, a history of abdominal surgery or radiotherapy to the abdominal region, ileus or suspected ileus, or pregnancy.
- Not bedridden or wheelchair-dependent.
- Willing to participate in the study and providing informed consent.
Who cannot join
- History of bowel resection.
- History of abdominal surgery.
- Uncontrolled psychiatric illness.
- Active lower gastrointestinal bleeding.
- Use of laxatives or suppositories, or administration of enemas.
- Refusal to participate in the study.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Turkey (Türkiye)1 site
Istanbul University, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine Hospital
Istanbul, 34093
About this study
Official title: Effects of Abdominal Massage on Abdominal Pain, Constipation, and Gas/Bloating in Patients Receiving Enteral Nutrition Following Head and Neck Cancer Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial
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.
Read the detailed description
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.
- Conditions
- Abdominal Massage, Enteral Nutrition, Nasogastric Feeding, Head and Neck Surgery, Oncology Nursing, Randomized Controlled Trial
- Being tested
- Abdominal Massage
- Keywords
- Abdominal Massage, Head and Neck Cancer, Enteral Nutrition, Nasogastric Feeding, Abdominal Pain, Constipation, Gas and Bloating, Oncology Nursing
- Medical subject headings
- Head and Neck Neoplasms, Abdominal Pain, Constipation, Mucopolysaccharidosis IV
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Abdominal MassageOther
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.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| control | No intervention | 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 | Experimental | 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. Receives: Other: Abdominal Massage |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
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.
Measured: 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.
Measured: 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.The total score on the scale ranges from 0 to 48.
Measured: Twice daily (morning and evening) on postoperative days 1, 2, and 3 (six assessments over three days).
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted22 Oct 2026
- Study start30 Oct 2024
- Primary completion30 Aug 2025
- Study completion30 Aug 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Abdominal MassageStudies 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
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- This study was designed as a two-arm, parallel-group randomized controlled trial. A total of 70 patients receiving enteral nutrition following head and neck cancer surgery were randomly assigned to an intervention group (n=35) or a control group (n=35). The intervention group received abdominal massage twice daily for three consecutive postoperative days in addition to standard nursing care. The control group received standard nursing care alone. Both groups were assessed at six time points over three postoperative days.
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 70 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Maltepe University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Hatice Erdoğan, Maltepe University
- Investigators
- Hatice Erdoğan, Study chair, Maltepe Üniversitesi
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07889011
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- HNC-AM-RCT-2024-01
- Other IDs
- 2024/1779
- Acronym
- HNC-AM
- Status last verified
- Oct 2026
- First submitted
- 15 Oct 2026
- Last updated
- 26 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 26 Oct 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effects of Abdominal Massage on Abdominal Pain, Constipation, and Gas/Bloating in Patients Receiving Enteral Nutrition Following Head and Neck Cancer Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07889011
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- HNC-AM / HNC-AM-RCT-2024-01
- Conditions
- Abdominal Massage, Enteral Nutrition, Nasogastric Feeding, Head and Neck Surgery, Oncology Nursing, Randomized Controlled Trial
- Keywords
- Abdominal Massage, Head and Neck Cancer, Enteral Nutrition, Nasogastric Feeding, Abdominal Pain, Constipation, Gas and Bloating, Oncology Nursing
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 70 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Maltepe UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 30 Oct 2024 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 30 Aug 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 30 Aug 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 22 Oct 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
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.
Detailed description
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.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- This study was designed as a two-arm, parallel-group randomized controlled trial. A total of 70 patients receiving enteral nutrition following head and neck cancer surgery were randomly assigned to an intervention group (n=35) or a control group (n=35). The intervention group received abdominal massage twice daily for three consecutive postoperative days in addition to standard nursing care. The control group received standard nursing care alone. Both groups were assessed at six time points over three postoperative days.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| control | No intervention | –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 | Experimental | Other: Abdominal MassageAbdominal 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. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (11 listed)
- Aged 18 years or older.
- Underwent head and neck surgery.
- Able to communicate in Turkish.
- Receiving inpatient treatment and nursing care.
- Receiving enteral nutrition through a nasogastric tube.
Key exclusion criteria (6 listed)
- History of bowel resection.
- History of abdominal surgery.
- Uncontrolled psychiatric illness.
- Active lower gastrointestinal bleeding.
- Use of laxatives or suppositories, or administration of enemas.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Abdominal MassageAbdominal 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 |
Primary outcome
Abdominal Pain Intensity
Time frame: Twice daily (morning and evening) on postoperative days 1, 2, and 3 (six assessments over three days).
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.
Constipation Severity
Time frame: Twice daily (morning and evening) on postoperative days 1, 2, and 3 (six assessments over three days).
Constipation was assessed using the Constipation Assessment Scale (CAS). Total scores range from 0 to 16, with higher scores indicating greater constipation severity.
Gas and Bloating Severity
Time frame: Twice daily (morning and evening) on postoperative days 1, 2, and 3 (six assessments over three days).
Gas and bloating symptoms were assessed using the Gas/Bloating Scale. Higher scores indicate greater symptom severity.The total score on the scale ranges from 0 to 48.
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 26 Oct 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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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.
Hatice Erdoğan study chair
Maltepe Üniversitesi
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Abdominal Massage in people with Abdominal Massage and Enteral Nutrition, run by Maltepe University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
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 11 inclusion and 6 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 26 Oct 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). 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?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
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?
Abdominal Pain Intensity (time frame: Twice daily (morning and evening) on postoperative days 1, 2, and 3 (six assessments over three days).). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
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 26 Oct 2026.