The Effect of Footbaths on Sleep and Fatigue in Older Korean Adults.
- Author:
Hee Suk SEO
1
;
Kyeong Yae SOHNG
Author Information
1. Department of Nursing, Dongkang College, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article ; Randomized Controlled Trial
- Keywords:
Bath;
Sleep;
Fatigue;
Aged
- MeSH:
Actigraphy;
Adult;
Aged;
Animals;
Ankle;
Baths;
Fatigue;
Foot;
Humans;
Long-Term Care;
Phenothiazines;
Republic of Korea;
Water
- From:Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamental Nursing
2011;18(4):488-496
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: To determine the type and degree of effect that a hot footbath has on sleep quality and fatigue level in older Korean adults. METHODS: A non-equivalent control group quasi-experimental design was used. Fifty participants from a long-term care facility in Kwangju, South Korea, were randomly selected and assigned to two groups: experimental group (27 participants) and control group (23 participants). The participants in the experimental group received hot footbaths in a temperature-controlled water tub of 42degrees C. They soaked their feet up to 20cm above the ankles for 30 minutes before going to bed for 3 nights. Actigraphy was used to measure their sleep patterns. The data were analyzed using the SAS program. RESULTS: After the intervention, the total sleep satisfaction rate of the participants increased, while sleep latency and fatigue decreased significantly in the experimental group compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: The study results suggest that hot footbaths are beneficial for older Korean adults in enhancing sleep quality as well as reducing fatigue. Therefore, hot footbaths are recommended as a nursing intervention to improve sleep quality and to reduce fatigue in older Korean adults.
