Pressure ulcers are a common problem for immobilized patients and cause suffering. Massage therapy is used as a complementary treatment and prevention method. The study aimed to assess knowledge of back massage for preventing pressure sores in relatives of non-ambulatory patients. A video teaching program was developed and provided to 60 relatives, who completed a pre-and post-test. The results showed a significant increase in knowledge scores after the video program, supporting its effectiveness in teaching relatives how back massage can prevent pressure sores.

1. ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND
Pressure ulcers are a major problem in all areas of health care.
These ulcers are a common and painful condition among immobilized
and debilitated patients and cause a great deal of suffering and
frustration, not only to the patients themselves, but also to their
relatives and caregivers. Although various preventive measures are
being used, one of the most commonly used complementary and
alternative medicine modalities is massage therapy. Massage Therapy
(MT) is part of a comprehensive treatment approach in various health
care settings. Massage therapy is used for a wide range of health-
related reasons from treatment of various symptoms and conditions to
prevention and health maintenance so knowledge on massage therapy
is important for the nurses as well as the relatives who taking care of
the patients.

2. OBJECTIVES
 To assess the existing knowledge regarding the use of back massage in
prevention of pressure sores among relatives of non-ambulatory patients
in selected hospitals in Mysore
 To develop and conduct Video Assisted Teaching Programme (VAT)
regarding the use of back massage in prevention of pressure sores.
 To evaluate the effectiveness of Video Assisted Teaching Programme on
knowledge regarding the use of back massage in prevention of pressure
sores among relatives of non-ambulatory patients in terms of post-test
score.
 To assess the effectiveness of Video Assisted Teaching Programme
regarding the use of back massage in prevention of pressure sores.

3.  To find out the association between knowledge regarding the use of
back massage in prevention of pressure sore among relatives of non-
ambulatory patients with selected demographic variables such as
age, gender, educational status, type of family, area of living and
duration of experience on taking care etc.

4. METHODS
 One group pre-test and post-test design was used to assess the
effectiveness of VAT in improving the knowledge on the use of back
massage in prevention of pressure Sore among relatives of non-
ambulatory patients at selected hospitals at Mysore.
 In view of the nature of the problem and to accomplish the objectives of
the study, a video assisted teaching programme was prepared focusing
on use of back massage in prevention of pressure sore among relatives.
A structured questionnaire was prepared and was used to assess the
effectiveness of video assisted teaching programme.
 Reliability of the tool was tested and validity was ensured in consultation
with guides and experts in the field of statistics, medicine and nursing.

5.  The study was carried out in Gopala Gowda Shanthaveri memorial
hospital at Mysore and 60 relatives of non-ambulatory patient were
selected by Non probability convenience sampling technique.
Questionnaire was administered to collect the needed data. Data was
analyzed by using descriptive and inferential statistics.
RESULT
With regard to the knowledge assessment, the mean pre-test
score was 10.30 and post-test score was 18.86. The mean difference
between pre-test score and post-test score was 8.56.The computed
paired ‘t’value was 29.20 (p<0.05) and it was significant at 0.05% level.
Therefore the research hypothesis (H1) accepted, ie. There is
significant difference between mean pre-test and mean post-test
knowledge score.

6. INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSION
Further, effectiveness of VAT was tested by inferential statistics
using the paired‘t’ test. A significant difference was found between pre
and post-test knowledge scores of respondents indicating significant
increase in knowledge after VAT. Hence research hypothesis H1 was
accepted and VAT was found to be effective in improving the knowledge
on back massage in prevention of pressure sore among relatives of non-
ambulatory patients.
KEY WORDS
Knowledge; Non-ambulatory; Back massage; Pressure sore.