Can using an electric massage chair reduce anxiety before a planned caesarean section?

Mechanical massage with an electric massage chair and preoperative anxiety in planned caesarean section: a randomised control trial

Status

Recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

ISRCTN

Registry ID

ISRCTN45521299

Enrollment

210

Registered

2026-05-14

Start date

2026-05-25

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2026-05-25

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Anxiety at planned caesarean Pregnancy and Childbirth

Interventions

This study is a prospective, single-centre, parallel-group, assessor-blinded randomized controlled interventional trial evaluating the effect of mechanical massage using an electric massage chair on p

however, participants will not be allowed to increase intensity or alter programme mode. Participants in the OFF-MASSAGE control arm will sit in the identical massage chair for the same duration and

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

Female

Age

18 Years to 50 Years

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: 1. PAS-7 score = 8 out of a maximum score of 28, indicating preoperative anxiety 2. Planned caesarean section 3. Singleton pregnancy 4. Term pregnancy (gestational age = 37 weeks) 5. Adult (age = 18 years) 6. Reassuring fetal status (based on CTG monitoring as part of standard care) 7. Able to give consent 8. Able to communicate in English or Bahasa Melayu

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: 1. Known psychiatric illnesses (e.g., depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, etc.) requiring current medications or other treatment. 2. Gross fetal anomalies 3. Placenta praevia 4. Morbidly adherent placenta spectrum 5. Major maternal medical disorders (Eg: cardiac disease, renal failure, etc)

Countries

Malaysia

Contacts

Public ContactDhivya Dharshini SubramanIam

s.dhivya@ummc.edu.my+60149448615

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ISRCTN (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: May 30, 2026