This RCT compared pain relief after major operations in 202 patients who received one of three nursing interventions: massage, focused attention or routine care. Interventions were performed twice daily starting 24 h after the operation through to postoperative day 7. Perceived pain was measured each morning. The rate of decline in the unpleasantness of postoperative pain was accelerated by massage (P = 0.05). Massage also accelerated the rate of decline in the intensity of postoperative pain but this effect was not statistically significant. Use of opioid analgesics was not altered significantly by the interventions.