Abstract:
Aim: The study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of hand-foot massage on post operative pain among open heart surgery patients. The study design was a Randomized Control Trial and was performed in the Cardio-thoracic unit, Kasturba Hospital, Manipal. 30 patients were selected based on sampling criteria and were randomly allocated to the experimental (n=15) and control group (n=15).
Methods: Preoperative pain was measured for both the groups using Numerical Pain scale and Observational checklist for behavioral response to pain. In the post operative period, 20 minutes of Hand-foot massage was given to the experimental group along with the routine care and the control group received only the routine care.
Conclusions: Statistically significant difference was found based on numerical pain scale (p=0.02) and observational checklist for behavioral response to pain (p<0.01) in the level of pain between the experimental and control group. Hence, it was concluded that hand-foot massage was effective in reducing post operative pain in open heart surgery patients.
Keywords: Hand-Foot Massage, Post Operative Pain, Open Heart Surgery Patients, Randomised Control Trial