Effectiveness of hot water foot bath therapy on body temperature among patients with fever in selected ICUs of a tertiary care hospital, Ludhiana, Punjab

Abstract

Fever itself is not an illness. A fever is usually a sign that immune system is busy fighting an infection or other illness. Water is an excellent conductor, which allows it to transfer heat effectively and quickly. Water has a temperature conducting capacity twenty-seven times that of air. When Hot Water Foot Bath applied for 15-20 minutes the blood vessels in the feet starts expanding and gets improved circulation, and relieving aches, tiredness and fever. The improved blood circulation resets the hypothalamic set points by heat transfer from higher heat area to lower heat area. Objectives: To assess the effectiveness of hot water foot bath therapy on body temperature among patients with fever. Methodology: In this study, with Quantitative approach, pre-test and post-test control group design was used. This study was conducted in ICUs of Tertiary care Hospital, Ludhiana The target population consists of patients with fever admitted in ICUs. Purposive sampling technique was used to draw sample from target population as per inclusion and exclusion criteria. With lottery method, patients (N= 50) were divided into two groups i.e. n1=25 (experimental group) and n2=25 (Control group). Pre-test of body temperature was done by using standardized digital thermometer. For experimental group, hot water foot bath therapy at 107.6 °F (42°C) water temperature as measured with lotion thermometer was given for 15 minutes. Later, post-test of body temperature was done to determine the effectiveness of hot water foot bath therapy. Result: The findings of the study showed that significant difference has been found in experimental group and control group in pre-test and post-test between the groups and within experimental groups. In between the groups, i.e. in experimental group was 99.424±0.5811 and in control group was 100.648±05516. Within the experimental group, mean value of body temperature in pre-test was 100.632 ±0.4110 °F, in posttest it was 99.424 ±0.5811°F, whereas, in control group mean value of body temperature in pre-test was 100.624±0.4944°F, and in post-test it was 100.648±0.5516°F. Conclusion: The finding of the study demonstrated that hot water foot bath therapy was an effective non-Pharmacological method to reduce the body temperature. The mean post-test body temperature was lower than mean pre-test body temperature. There was significant difference in body temperature has been found between the experimental group and control group, as well as with in the experimental group in pre-test and post-test.