Table 1 Characteristics of included studies
Author | Design | Country | Sample size | Gestational age | Intervention | Comparison | Follow up | Outcomes | Outcome measures | Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tekgündüz et al., 2014 [16] | Quasi-experimental | Turkey | 27 | 28 to 32 weeks | Abdominal massage 2 times daily for 5 days (each time = 15 min) | Routine Care | Last day | GRV, frequency of vomiting, abdominal circumference | Syringe, observation, meter | There was statistically significant difference between first day and last day in massage group. |
Shaeri et al., 2017 [19] | RCT | Iran | 64 | 29 to 33 weeks | Abdominal massage performed by a researcher 2 times daily for 5 days (each time = 15 min) | Routine Care | Last day | GRV, frequency of vomiting, abdominal circumference | Syringe, observation, meter | GRV, frequency of vomiting and abdominal circumference significantly reduced in the massage group, as compared the control group. |
Mohamed & Ahmed, 2018 [15] | Quasi-experimental | Egypt | 60 | 28 to 36 weeks | Abdominal massage performed 2 times daily for 5 days (each time = 15 min) | Routine Care | 5th days of intervention | GRV, frequency of vomiting, abdominal circumference | Novel neonatal feeding intolerance tool. | There was statistically significant difference between first day and last day in massage group. |
Ghasemi et al., 2019 [20] | RCT | Iran | 28 | Mean age was 32.4 weeks in intervention and 33 weeks in control groups | Abdominal massage performed by a trained physiotherapist 2 times daily for 5 days (each time = 15 min) | Routine Care | 5th days of intervention | GRV | Syringe | GRV Significantly reduced in the massage group, as compared with the control group |
Choi et al., 2015 [17] | Pilot study | South Korea | 20 | 30 to 34 weeks | Massage (based on written protocol) performed 2 times daily for 14 days (each time = 15 min) | Routine Care | 14th days of intervention | The number of gastric residual, abdominal circumference | GRV measured by a Syringe and the number of gastric residual recorded. | Frequency of gastric residual Significantly reduced in the massage group, as compared control group. |
Fazli et al., 2017 [18] | RCT | Iran | 34 | 30 to 34 weeks | Abdominal massage performed 2 times daily for 7 days (each time = 15 min) | Routine Care | “During the intervention days” | The number of gastric residual, frequency of vomiting | Vomiting and gastric residual recoded using nurses’ reports | Frequency of vomiting was significantly low in the massage group, but there was no significantly difference between two groups in terms of vomiting. |
Karbandi et al., 2013 [13] | RCT | Iran | 60 | 28 to 37 weeks | Passive massage movements performed daily in tree times for 5 days (each time = 15 min) | Routine Care | Last day | Feeding intolerance | Observations conducted by a researcher or nurses and recorded. | Feeding intolerance was significantly low in the massage group. |
Fouda et al., 2018 [14] | Quasi-experimental | Egypt | 60 | < 37 week | Abdominal massage: 2 times daily for 7 days (each time = 15 min. | Routine Care | During 7 days | GRV, Vomiting. | Nutritional Assessment of Premature Neonate tool | In the end of 7th days, none of infants in both intervention groups had gastric residual and vomiting compared to the control group. |