The effect of automated massage administered to healthcare professionals on their pain, fatigue, and psychological well-being

BackgroundWaist and back pain are common among healthcare professionals in labor and delivery units due to physical demands and psychological workload. Massage may alleviate symptoms; however, manual massage often lacks feasibility. Automated massage devices may offer an alternative, but evidence among healthcare professionals is limited.ObjectiveThis study aimed to examine within-group changes in pain, perceived stress, state anxiety, fatigue, and psychological well-being among healthcare professionals following an automated massage application.MethodsThis single-group pretest-posttest quasi-experimental study was conducted with 35 healthcare professionals working in the delivery room of a state hospital. Participants used an automated massage device applied to the waist and back regions during routine break periods for two weeks. Data were collected using the Visual Analogue Scale for pain, the Perceived Stress Scale, the State Anxiety subscale of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, the Piper Fatigue Scale, and the Psychological Well-Being Scale. Pretest-posttest comparisons were performed using paired-samples t tests or Wilcoxon signed-rank tests, as appropriate.ResultsStatistically significant within-group reductions were observed in pain, perceived stress, state anxiety, and fatigue scores following the intervention (p < .001). Psychological well-being scores showed a statistically significant increase after the intervention period (p < .001).ConclusionsIn this single-group study, automated massage use was associated with favorable short-term changes in pain, stress, anxiety, fatigue, and psychological well-being among healthcare professionals working in a labor and delivery setting. Further controlled studies with larger samples and longer follow-up periods are needed to confirm these results.