Pain ManagementNCT07031271
The Effect of the Strategic Game Tangram on Postoperative Patient Outcomes
A study testing Tangram game in people with Pain Management and Postoperative Care, run by Aydin Adnan Menderes University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
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. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Pain Management, Postoperative Care, Nursing Care
- What is being tested?
- Tangram game
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 74 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 15 Jun 2025to 15 May 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- 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
Who cannot join
- 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 locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Turkey (Türkiye)1 site
Aydın Adnan Menderes University
Aydin, Aydın, 09010
About this study
Official title: Investigation of the Effect of Tangram Game on Patient Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Abdominal Surgery: A Randomised Controlled Study
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.
Read the detailed 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.
- Conditions
- Pain Management, Postoperative Care, Nursing Care
- Being tested
- Tangram game
- Medical subject headings
- Agnosia
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Tangram gameBehavioural
Tangram game; It is a very old intelligence and attention game of Chinese origin. This game stands out with its both entertaining and educational aspects. Tangram consists of seven geometric pieces formed from a square shape. These 7 pieces; 2 large right triangles, 1 medium right triangle, 2 small right triangles, 1 square and 1 parallelogram. The aim is to create various shapes (animals, people, objects, letters, etc.) with these pieces. The aim of the Tangram game is to recreate the same appearance with a given shape (silhouette) using the pieces. All 7 pieces must be used in the game, the pieces must not be overlapped, the pieces must not be cut or divided, the pieces can be rotated or turned according to the selected shape. For example, the person is asked to create a cat figure with these 7 pieces in accordance with the rules. This game is one of the non-pharmacological pain management techniques by diverting the attention of the patients. It is easy to apply and cheap.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Tangram game | Experimental | 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). Receives: Behavioral: Tangram game |
| Usual care | No intervention | 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). |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Pain level
The numerical rating scale to be used in the assessment of pain is a one-dimensional 10 cm scale based on the patient's self-report. The lower end is "no pain", corresponding to 0 points, and the upper end is "unbearable pain", corresponding to 10 points. As the pain intensity expressed by the patient increases on the scale, it will be interpreted that the patient's pain increases. This is first measurement.
Measured: Postoperative 1st day
Pain level
The numerical rating scale to be used in the assessment of pain is a one-dimensional 10 cm scale based on the patient's self-report. The lower end is "no pain", corresponding to 0 points, and the upper end is "unbearable pain", corresponding to 10 points. As the pain intensity expressed by the patient increases on the scale, it will be interpreted that the patient's pain increases. This is second measurement.
Measured: 20 minutes later after first measurement
Pain level
The numerical rating scale to be used in the assessment of pain is a one-dimensional 10 cm scale based on the patient's self-report. The lower end is "no pain", corresponding to 0 points, and the upper end is "unbearable pain", corresponding to 10 points. As the pain intensity expressed by the patient increases on the scale, it will be interpreted that the patient's pain increases. This is third measurement.
Measured: 30 minutes later after second measurement
Fatigue level
The numerical rating scale to be used in the assessment of fatigue is a one-dimensional 10 cm scale based on the patient's self-report. The lower end is "not tired" corresponding to 0 points, and the upper end is "unbearably tired" corresponding to 10 points. As the fatigue intensity expressed by the patient increases on the scale, it will be interpreted as the patient's fatigue increasing. This is first mesurement.
Measured: Postoperative 1st day
Fatigue level
The numerical rating scale to be used in the assessment of fatigue is a one-dimensional 10 cm scale based on the patient's self-report. The lower end is "not tired" corresponding to 0 points, and the upper end is "unbearably tired" corresponding to 10 points. As the fatigue intensity expressed by the patient increases on the scale, it will be interpreted as the patient's fatigue increasing. This is second mesurement.
Measured: 20 minutes later after fist measurement
Fatigue level
The numerical rating scale to be used in the assessment of fatigue is a one-dimensional 10 cm scale based on the patient's self-report. The lower end is "not tired" corresponding to 0 points, and the upper end is "unbearably tired" corresponding to 10 points. As the fatigue intensity expressed by the patient increases on the scale, it will be interpreted as the patient's fatigue increasing. This is third mesurement.
Measured: 30 minutes later after second measurement
Secondary outcomes (1)
Comfort level
General Comfort Scale-Short Form will be used to evaluate the comfort level. The scale consists of 28 items and the items of the scale are scored between 28-168. General Comfort Scale Short Form consists of three sub-dimensions: relief, relaxation, and superiority. GKÖ-SF was developed by Kolcaba in 2006 and its Turkish validity and reliability study was conducted by Çıtlık et al. in 2018. It includes the sub-dimensions of comfort, relief (9 items), relaxation (9 items), and overcoming problems (10 items). In the evaluation of the scale consisting of positive and negative items, the negative items are reverse coded and summed. The mean value is found by dividing the total score by the number of scale items. The lowest possible value, 1, indicates low comfort, and the highest value, 6, indicates high comfort.
Measured: 30 minutes after second measurement
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted22 Jun 2025
- Study start15 Jun 2025
- Primary completion15 Dec 2025 (estimated)
- Study completion15 May 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Pain ManagementStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Aydin Adnan Menderes UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 74 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Aydin Adnan Menderes University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Ezgi Arslan, Aydin Adnan Menderes University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07031271
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- Diversion of Attention
- Status last verified
- Jun 2025
- First submitted
- 13 Jun 2025
- Last updated
- 29 Jun 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: The data sets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 29 Jun 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Investigation of the Effect of Tangram Game on Patient Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Abdominal Surgery: A Randomised Controlled Study
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07031271
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- Diversion of Attention
- Conditions
- Pain Management, Postoperative Care, Nursing Care
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Active, not recruiting
- Enrolment
- 74 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Aydin Adnan Menderes UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 15 Jun 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 15 Dec 2025 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 15 May 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 22 Jun 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
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.
Detailed 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.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Tangram game | Experimental | Behavioral: Tangram gameIn 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). |
| Usual care | No intervention | –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). |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- 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
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- 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)
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Tangram gameTangram game; It is a very old intelligence and attention game of Chinese origin. This game stands out with its both entertaining and educational aspects. Tangram consists of seven geometric pieces formed from a square shape. These 7 pieces; 2 large right triangles, 1 medium right triangle, 2 small right triangles, 1 square and 1 parallelogram. The aim is to create various shapes (animals, people, objects, letters, etc.) with these pieces. The aim of the Tangram game is to recreate the same appearance with a given shape (silhouette) using the pieces. All 7 pieces must be used in the game, the pieces must not be overlapped, the pieces must not be cut or divided, the pieces can be rotated or turned according to the selected shape. For example, the person is asked to create a cat figure with these 7 pieces in accordance with the rules. This game is one of the non-pharmacological pain management techniques by diverting the attention of the patients. It is easy to apply and cheap. | Behavioural | Tangram game |
Primary outcome
Pain level
Time frame: Postoperative 1st day
The numerical rating scale to be used in the assessment of pain is a one-dimensional 10 cm scale based on the patient's self-report. The lower end is "no pain", corresponding to 0 points, and the upper end is "unbearable pain", corresponding to 10 points. As the pain intensity expressed by the patient increases on the scale, it will be interpreted that the patient's pain increases. This is first measurement.
Pain level
Time frame: 20 minutes later after first measurement
The numerical rating scale to be used in the assessment of pain is a one-dimensional 10 cm scale based on the patient's self-report. The lower end is "no pain", corresponding to 0 points, and the upper end is "unbearable pain", corresponding to 10 points. As the pain intensity expressed by the patient increases on the scale, it will be interpreted that the patient's pain increases. This is second measurement.
Pain level
Time frame: 30 minutes later after second measurement
The numerical rating scale to be used in the assessment of pain is a one-dimensional 10 cm scale based on the patient's self-report. The lower end is "no pain", corresponding to 0 points, and the upper end is "unbearable pain", corresponding to 10 points. As the pain intensity expressed by the patient increases on the scale, it will be interpreted that the patient's pain increases. This is third measurement.
Fatigue level
Time frame: Postoperative 1st day
The numerical rating scale to be used in the assessment of fatigue is a one-dimensional 10 cm scale based on the patient's self-report. The lower end is "not tired" corresponding to 0 points, and the upper end is "unbearably tired" corresponding to 10 points. As the fatigue intensity expressed by the patient increases on the scale, it will be interpreted as the patient's fatigue increasing. This is first mesurement.
Fatigue level
Time frame: 20 minutes later after fist measurement
The numerical rating scale to be used in the assessment of fatigue is a one-dimensional 10 cm scale based on the patient's self-report. The lower end is "not tired" corresponding to 0 points, and the upper end is "unbearably tired" corresponding to 10 points. As the fatigue intensity expressed by the patient increases on the scale, it will be interpreted as the patient's fatigue increasing. This is second mesurement.
Fatigue level
Time frame: 30 minutes later after second measurement
The numerical rating scale to be used in the assessment of fatigue is a one-dimensional 10 cm scale based on the patient's self-report. The lower end is "not tired" corresponding to 0 points, and the upper end is "unbearably tired" corresponding to 10 points. As the fatigue intensity expressed by the patient increases on the scale, it will be interpreted as the patient's fatigue increasing. This is third mesurement.
1 secondary outcome
Comfort level
Time frame: 30 minutes after second measurement
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 29 Jun 2025.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. The data sets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Tangram game in people with Pain Management and Postoperative Care, run by Aydin Adnan Menderes University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: under way, not looking for participants, as of the sponsor's last update on 29 Jun 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Pain level (time frame: Postoperative 1st day). The study lists 6 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 29 Jun 2025.