The Effect of the Strategic Game Tangram on Postoperative Patient Outcomes

Aydin Adnan Menderes University

Status: Active, not recruiting

Conditions: Postoperative Care; Pain Management; Nursing Care

Treatments: Behavioral: Tangram game

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07031271

Diversion of Attention

Details and patient eligibility

About

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of playing tangram game after surgery on pain, fatigue and comfort levels in patients undergoing abdominal surgery.

Full description

Tangram game is a skill and strategy game based on creating 100 different forms, made of 4 or 7 pieces, made of wood. 100 different shapes are obtained by using all the given pieces. These patterns should be arranged from easy to difficult by following a given guide. Tangram game is a strong stimulant as it appeals to both visual and mental skills. Strong stimulants prevent the ongoing pain stimulus at that moment. Pain transmission is interrupted and the individual is prevented from feeling pain. During and after the game, the pain level begins to decrease thanks to different stimulants. Applications that give the individual pleasure, such as Tangram, provide the secretion of substances such as enkephalin and endorphin. With these secreted substances, the body's own analgesia system is supported and the severity of pain is reduced. There are studies in the literature testing non-pharmacological interventions in the management of post-operative pain and fatigue. Some of these studies include studies evaluating the effects of massage, listening to music, cold application, distraction strategies such as playing a tangram game or giving auditory stimulation, mobilization, reflexology, chewing gum, and acupuncture. There are limited studies in the literature on the use of tangram games in the management of postoperative pain, and no studies have been found examining the effects of this intervention on pain, fatigue, and patient comfort.

Enrollment: 74 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Having had abdominal surgery
• Being on the first day after surgery
• Having a first pain measurement score of at least 2
• Having at least 3 hours since the last analgesic application

Exclusion criteria

• Having hearing/vision/mental problems
• Having limited movement in the hand/wrist/arm
• Having undergone surgery due to cancer
• Being diagnosed with a psychological illness (schizophrenia, depression)

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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74 participants in 2 patient groups

Tangram game

Experimental group

Description:

In this group, researchers will apply the Patient Identification Form to patients who are on the first day after surgery, who give at least 2 points for pain level, and who have had at least 3 hours since the last analgesic application, and will ask about the patients' pain and fatigue levels (First measurement). After this evaluation, patients in the intervention group will be asked to play the game for 20 minutes by making their own models with 7-piece tangram pieces in accordance with the randomization output. After the game, the pain and fatigue levels will be questioned again (Second measurement). The pain and fatigue levels will be questioned again 30 minutes after the second measurement (Third measurement).

Treatment:

Behavioral: Tangram game

Usual care

No Intervention group

Description:

In this group, researchers will apply the Patient Identification Form to patients who are on the first day after surgery, who give at least 2 points for pain level, and who have had at least 3 hours since the last analgesic application, and will ask about the patients' pain and fatigue levels (First measurement). After this assessment, no intervention will be applied to the patients, and the pain and fatigue levels will be questioned again 20 minutes after the first measurement (Second measurement). The pain and fatigue levels will be questioned again 30 minutes after the second measurement (Third measurement).