Effectiveness of Foot Bath Therapy in Reducing Blood Pressure among Clients with Hypertension

 

Mrs. Baby Shobana N

Assistant Professor, Manikaka Topowala Institute of Nursing, Changa.

 

 

ABSTRACT:

A quasi experimental study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of footbath therapy in reducing blood pressure among clients with hypertension at selected hospital among 60 clients who satisfy inclusive criteria were selected as samples using purposive sampling technique. Foot bath therapy was given for 10 minutes twice a day. The pre and post level of blood pressure was measured using sphygmomanometer. The findings revealed that there was a high statistical difference in the level of blood pressure.  The pretest mean level of BP was 141.3, standard deviation is 10.24 and the post test mean is 126.3, standard deviation is 7.06,‘t’ test value is 32.67 in experimental group. In control group, the pretest mean level of BP was 155, standard deviation is 16.27 and the post test mean is 145.6, standard deviation is 16.26, ‘t’ test value is 6.22. The study concluded that there was significant reduction in Blood Pressure in experimental group as compared to the control group. This shows that foot bath technique is effective in hypertensive clients.

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION:

Hypertension is an important worldwide public health challenge because of its high frequency and concomitant risks of cardio vascular and kidney disease. It has been identified as the leading risk factors for mortality and is ranked third as a cause of Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALY). Hypertension is one of the common reasons for development of complications like multi organ failure, heart failure, ventricular hypertrophy, widening of arteries, stroke and other complications like hypertensive retinopathy, hypertensive nephropathy etc. Though Allopathic treatment paves a way in controlling hypertension, it has got more side effects; this can be minimized by implication of complementary modality that is foot bath therapy for treating hypertension¹.

 

Foot bath therapy is considered to be very simple, convenient, and economical and can be done in domiciliary setting. It has profound physiological effects that have been demonstrated through research³.

 

The effects of the foot bath therapy are^{2, 7}

v Promotes circulation throughout the day.

v Boosts the immune system by significantly increasing lymph flow.

v Neurological soothing effects such as promoting relaxation, relieves fatigue and insomnia.

v Other effects include pain relief especially headache, colds, asthma and hypertension and nasal congestions.

 

NEED FOR THE STUDY:

Globally cardiovascular disease accounts for approximately 17 million deaths a year. Of these, complications of hypertension account for 9.4 million deaths worldwide every year. Hypertension is responsible for at least 45% of deaths due to heart disease and 51% of deaths due to stroke⁶.

 

World Health Services (2013) Hypertension affects approximately 1 billion individuals worldwide. Prevalence of hypertension was 59.9 and 69.9 per 1000 males and females in urban population and 35.5 and 35.9 per males and females in rural population among worldwide. The prevalence rate of hypertension in America, Asia and Korea is 45%, 35% and 72% respectively⁶.

 

WHO health statistics (2012) the prevalence of hypertension in India was 23.1 % in men and 22.6% in women in equal or more than 25 year’s age. The prevalence rates in all developed countries ranges from 34% to 64% and it is predicted to the about 1.56 billion by 2025⁵.

 

National health care services (2012)the prevalence of hypertension in different states of India such as 21.5% in Andhrapradesh, 42.3% in Orissa 18.4% in Tamilnadu 21% West Bengal and 47% in Kerala⁴.

 

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM:

A Quasi experimental study to assess the effectiveness of Foot bath therapy in reducing Blood pressure among clients with Hypertension in selected Hospital, Nellore.

 

OBJECTIVES:

•      To assess the pre test and post test level of blood pressure among clients with hypertension in experimental group and control group.

•      To assess the effectiveness of food bath therapy in reducing blood pressure among clients with hypertension in experimental group.

•      To associate the selected socio demographic variables with the pre test and post test blood pressure level of clients with hypertension in experimental group and control group

 

HYPOTHESIS:

H₀₁:- There is no significant difference between pre test and post test level of blood pressure among clients with hypertension in experimental and control group at the level of P<0.05

 

H₀₂:- There is no statistically significant association between the pre test and post test level of Blood pressure with selected demographic data among clients with hypertension in experimental and control group the level of P<0.05.

 

ASSUMPTION:

Foot bath therapy may help to reduce the blood pressure

 

METHODOLOGY:

Quasi experimental non equivalent control design was used. The study was conducted in Nellore among 60 hypertensive clients who satisfy the inclusive criteria were selected as samples using purposive sampling technique. Demographic data was collected. BP was checked before and after giving foot bath therapy for 7 days. Foot bath therapy was given for 15 to 20 minutes. For control group same data collection procedure was executed without intervention and hospital routine was followed. Indian hypertension guidelines – II was used to assess blood pressure using electronic BP apparatus.

 

DATA ANALYSIS

Data analysis was done using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings of the study revealed that pre and post test level of BP in experimental group t value was 32.67 which was significant at p<0.001 level and in control group t value was 6.22 which was also significant.

 

Comparison of pre and post test B.P on 1^st& 7^th day among patients with hypertension in experimental and control group.        (N=60)

	Experimental group             (n=30)				Control group  (n=30)
	1st day (pre test)		7th day (post test)		1st day (pre test)		7th  day (post test)
Optimal (<120)	f	%	f	%	f	%	f	%
	-	-	15	50	-	-	4	13.3
Normal (<130)	-	-	11	36.7	-	-	-	-
High normal (130-139)	-	-	-	-	-	-	3	10
HTN-stage 1(140-150 )	3	10	4	13.3	4	13.3	16	53.3
HTN-stage-2 (160-179 )	18	60	-	-	11	36.7	5	16.7
HTN stage-3 (≥180 )	9	30	-	-	15	50	2	6.7

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comparison of pre test and post test systolic and diastolic blood pressure between Experimental Group and Control Group.

		Experimental group			Control group
		Mean	Standard deviation	T - test	Mean	Standard deviation	T - test
Pre test	Systolic BP	141.33	10.24	t- 32.67 S	155	16.27	t- 6.22 S
	Diastolic BP	83.33	5.55	t-5.28 S	90	8.74	t-6.59 S
Post test	Systolic BP	126.33	7.06		145.66	16.26
	Diastolic BP	79.66	6.33		86	7.68

 

 

There is no significance between the selected demographic variables and the level of hypertension socio demographic variables of hypertensive clients in experimental and control group.

 

CONCLUSION

The conclusion drawn from the study was that there was significant reduction in Blood Pressure in experimental group as compared to the control group. This shows that foot bath technique is effective in hypertensive clients.

 

REFRENCES:

1.         Black M Joyce, (2001) “Medical Surgical Nursing”, 6th edition, Harcourt publications, New Delhi,

2.         Ashok Jain, “Alternative therapies and Life style modifications to prevention and control of hypertension”, Canadian Medical Association Journal. 4(1999).

3.         Adams. D. Sibbrih, and A.F young .2011; hydrotherapy.

4.         http://www.americanheartassociation.com/blood pressure/2174/193

5.         Global Health statistics (2012). Harvard School of Public Health on behalf of the World Health Organization and the World Bank

6.         Mather CD, Ezzati M, Murracy CJL, Jamison DT, eds. Global burden of disease and risk factors. American Heart Association, New York,  45-240.

7.         http://www.healthcommunities.com/hydrotherapy/alternative-medicine/about-water-therapy.shtml

8.         http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2574895/

 

 

 

Received on 07.09.2017       Modified on 17.10.2017

Accepted on 22.02.2018       ©A&V Publications All right reserved