Effect of Preoperative Abdominal Effleurage on Postoperative Constipation

January 25, 2026 updated by: Mehmet Ozkeskin, Ege University

The Effect of Preoperative Abdominal Superficial Effleurage Training on the Development of Postoperative Constipation in Patients Undergoing Abdominal Surgery

This randomized controlled study aims to evaluate the effect of preoperative abdominal superficial effleurage training on the development of postoperative constipation in patients undergoing abdominal surgery. Participants will be randomly assigned to an intervention group receiving abdominal superficial effleurage training in addition to routine care or to a control group receiving routine care only. The effleurage technique will be taught preoperatively and performed by patients postoperatively. Postoperative constipation will be assessed on the 10th postoperative day using the Bristol Stool Form Scale. The findings of this study are expected to contribute to non-pharmacological nursing interventions for the prevention of postoperative constipation.

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Postoperative constipation is a common complication following abdominal surgery and may negatively affect patient comfort, recovery, and quality of life. Non-pharmacological nursing interventions that support bowel motility are therefore of increasing interest in perioperative care. Abdominal superficial effleurage is a gentle massage technique applied to the abdominal surface and is thought to stimulate intestinal peristalsis and promote bowel function.

This prospective, randomized controlled study will be conducted with patients scheduled to undergo abdominal surgery. A total of 42 patients will be randomly assigned to either the intervention group (n=21) or the control group (n=21) using a computer-generated randomization method. Patients in the intervention group will receive preoperative training on abdominal superficial effleurage in addition to routine clinical care, while patients in the control group will receive routine clinical care only. To minimize interaction between groups, data from the control group will be collected prior to the intervention group.

Abdominal superficial effleurage will be taught during the preoperative period and performed by patients postoperatively. The technique involves gentle stroking movements starting from the right upper quadrant of the abdomen and progressing toward the left lower quadrant. Each session will last approximately five minutes and will be performed one to three times daily during periods when the patient is not experiencing pain. Postoperative constipation will be evaluated on the 10th postoperative day through a telephone interview using the Bristol Stool Form Scale. Study data will be analyzed using appropriate descriptive and inferential statistical methods.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

42

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Patients scheduled to undergo abdominal surgery
  • Patients who are able to communicate verbally
  • Patients who agree to participate in the study and provide written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patients with preoperative constipation
  • Patients with known gastrointestinal diseases affecting bowel motility
  • Patients who are unable to perform abdominal superficial effleurage
  • Patients with cognitive impairment or communication difficulties
  • Patients who refuse to participate in the study

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Prevention
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Abdominal Superficial Effleurage Group
Participants in this group will receive preoperative training on abdominal superficial effleurage in addition to routine clinical care. Following surgery, patients will perform the effleurage technique for approximately five minutes, one to three times daily, during periods without pain.
Behavioral: Abdominal Superficial Effleurage Training
Abdominal superficial effleurage is a gentle abdominal massage technique involving stroking movements from the right upper quadrant toward the left lower quadrant of the abdomen. Participants will be trained preoperatively to perform the technique, which will take approximately five minutes per session and will be performed one to three times daily postoperatively during pain-free periods.
No Intervention: Control Group
Participants in the control group will receive routine clinical care only and will not receive abdominal superficial effleurage training during the study period.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Postoperative Constipation
Time Frame: 10 days postoperatively
Postoperative constipation will be assessed using the Bristol Stool Form Scale through a telephone interview conducted on the 10th postoperative day. Stool types 1 and 2 will be considered indicative of constipation.
10 days postoperatively

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Stool Consistency
Time Frame: 10 days postoperatively
Stool consistency will be evaluated using the Bristol Stool Form Scale (BSFS), a 7-point validated scale ranging from Type 1 (separate hard lumps, indicating severe constipation) to Type 7 (watery, no solid pieces, indicating severe diarrhea). Higher scores indicate looser stool consistency and a tendency toward diarrhea.
10 days postoperatively

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Ege University

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Mehmet Ozkeskin, PhD, Ege University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

March 10, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

July 10, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

September 10, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

January 7, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 7, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

January 15, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

January 27, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 25, 2026

Last Verified

January 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • MOzkeskin7126

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

Clinical Trials on Constipation

Clinical Trials on Abdominal Superficial Effleurage Training

Search Similar Trials

Sponsors and Collaborators

Medical Conditions

Drug Interventions

CROs by country

CROs in Netherlands

Conditions

Rare Diseases

Drug Interventions

Dietary Supplements

Sponsor/Collaborators

Locations

Subscribe