Comparison of the Effects on Sleep and Vital Signs of the Elderly Between the Hand Bath Group and the Foot Bath Group

Kang, So Yean; Kim, Joo Hyun

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of hand and foot baths on sleep and body temperature of the elderly.
METHODS
The research was designed for a nonequivalent control group before and after the test design. The subjects of this study totaled 43, aged 65 and over (23 people in hand bath group and 20 people in a foot bath group), who received a written voluntary consent to participate in experimental treatment and are in the W care center, S Nursing Home, and H care center in Seoul. Data were collected with questionnaires and observations, and were analyzed on the basis of frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, Ï‡Ï‡2-test, Fisher exact test, t-test and paired t-test.
RESULTS
There are no significant differences in homogeneity test of a dependent variable between groups (hand bath, foot bath). The differences between 2 groups on the sleep quality score and systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure temperature were not significant statistically except on the pulse.
CONCLUSION
Based on the results of this study, hand bath is as efficient as foot bath. Therefore, a hand bath can be a nursing intervention in order to enrich sleep quality for the elderly because a hand bath is more convenient than foot bath.