The Effect of Shoulder Massage and Therapeutic Touch on Pain and Anxiety After Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

Inclusion Criteria: * Participants were expected to be able to speak Turkish and have normal verbal communication skills. * They were required to possess normal cognitive abilities and have no psychiatric diagnoses. * Patients aged between 18 and 70 years. * Patients undergoing general anesthesia. * Patients who voluntarily agree to participate in the research Exclusion Criteria: * Patients receiving epidural analgesia post-surgery. * Patients whose laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) procedure was converted to an open cholecystectomy during the operation. * Patients experiencing postoperative confusion, requiring intensive care, or developing secondary complications that impair their ability to respond to questions accurately. * Patients who do not report shoulder pain following surgery. * Patients in a catabolic state, those aged 70 years or older, individuals with chronic pain or opioid use, and those experiencing severe postoperative symptoms such as excessive nausea, vomiting, bleeding, or infection. * Patients with surgical drains (e.g., Hemovac) may negatively influence pain levels and sleep quality, thereby interfering with the effectiveness of the intervention.