Effectiveness of Hand and Foot Massage on Pain among Post-caesarean Mothers at Selected Hospitals, Salem

Abstract

“A Study was conducted to Evaluate the Effectiveness of Hand and Foot Massage on Pain among Post caesarean mothers at Selected Hospitals, Salem”. Quasi experimental pre test post test control group design was adopted. Non probability purposive sampling technique was used to select 60 post caesarean mothers among which 30 were assigned to experimental group and 30 were assigned to control group. The data was collected using structured interview schedule. Pre test was done for both experimental and control group by using Numerical pain intensity scale. Hand and Foot Massage was given for the experimental group for 20 minutes two times a day at 4hrs for first two days (morning and evening) and withheld for control group. Post test was done for both experimental and control group by using the same scale. The study findings showed that in experimental group, 14 (46.67%) of the post caesarean mothers belong to the age group of 26-30 and 12 (40%) of them belong to the age group of 21-25 years in control group 14 (46.66%) of them belong to the age group of 21-25 years. In experimental group, 15 (50%) had completed higher secondary education and in control group 12 (40%) had higher secondary education. In experimental group, 23 (76.67%) of them were unemployed, whereas in control group 20 (66.67%) of them were unemployed. In experimental group 24 (80%) were multi gravid, whereas in control group 17 (56.67%) were multi gravid. In experimental group 24 (80%) had previous history of caesarean section and in control group 15 (50%) had history of both. The mean pre test score in experimental group was 6.4±0.56 and mean post test score was 3.5±0.79. The ‘t’ value was 33.72 which is significant at p≤0.05 level. Hence H1 was retained at p≤0.05 level. The mean score in experimental group was 3.5±0.79 and mean score in control group was 6.1±0.65. The ‘t’ value was 15.66 which was significant at p≤0.05 level. Hence H2 was retained at p≤0.05 level. There was a significant association between educational status and pain among post caesarean mothers in experimental group. Hence H3 was retained at p≤0.05 level. There was no significant association between demographic variables and pain among post caesarean mothers in control group. Hence H3 was rejected at p≥0.05 level. Hence Hand and Foot Massage is one of the alternative and complementary therapies, which is simple, safe and cost effective and found to be effective in reducing pain after caesarean section and also promotes psychological wellbeing of the mother.