Introduction: Sleep disturbance is common among patients in intensive care units (ICUs). Changes in clinical practice to promote sleep in the ICUs have been sporadic. The European Respiratory Society and the European Society of Intensive Care Medicin
e recognize that massage therapy may improve quality of sleep.
Goal: This study was conducted to identify the effects of back and face massage on sleep quality in ICU patients.
Material and Methods: A sample of 45 patients in intensive care units in Al-Assad University Hospital and Alwatani Hospital were recruited in the study. Both the massage and control participants were evaluated for sleep quality by Groningen sleep quality scale, 1 hour after administration of the protocol.
Results: The effectiveness of back and face massage, as quality of sleep,
is significantly improved (p=0.000) in the experimental back and face massage
groups (mean score 3.9981), and (mean score 4,4043) respectively, than in control group (mean score – 0.8117).
In conclusion, our data suggest that back and face massage therapy is effective in improving the quality of sleep in ICU patients
