Effect Of Warm Water Foot Bath On Fatigue In Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis

Abstract

Fatigue is one of the most frequent complaints reported by the end stage renal disease patients who are undergoing hemodialysis. It limits patients’ daily activities and independence. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of warm water foot bath on fatigue in patients undergoing hemodialysis. The present study was conducted at Kasr Al-Aini Center (Nephrology- Dialysis –Transplantation) at Cairo University hospital. A purposive sample consisted of 88 chronic renal failure patients (44 each in experimental and control group).Quasi experimental pre-post test non equivalent control group design was used. Data was collected using demographic sheet, Fatigue severity scale and bath thermometer. The study results revealed that in the experimental group a decrease of 8.46 points was indicated for the participants in the experimental group (time 1 is 53.73 ±3.22, time 3 after warm water footbath 45.27 ±5.98).Also a significant reduction was reported between the pre-test and post test score F = 42.447, P <0.0001. The current study concluded that most of the patients undergoing hemodialysis were suffering from fatigue. Warm water footbath is effective in reducing fatigue among patients who are undergoing hemodialysis. The study recommended that complimentary therapy such as warm water foot bath therapy should be added into hemodialysis complications treatment. The same study can be replicated in different settings  on hemodialysis patients.