The Effect of Footbaths on Sleep and Fatigue in Older Korean Adults

Seo, Hee Suk; Sohng, Kyeong Yae

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.