Effectiveness of "Warm Footbath" on Fatigue and Insomnia in Patients undergoing Radiotherapy

Objectives: To assess the effectiveness of warm foot-bath on relieving fatigue in cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy . To assess the effectiveness of warm foot-bath on relieving insomnia in cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy. To find correlation between post-test insomnia and post-test fatigue score. Methodology: A Quantitative research approach was used for the study to assess the effectiveness of Warm Foot Bath in cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy. Quasi - experimental pretest and posttest design was used in the study. The study was conducted in selected cancer hospital, Dehradun, Uttarakhand. Consecutive Sampling technique was used to select the study subjects. Data was collected from 60 cancer patients by using FACIT fatigue scale and Insomnia Severity Index. Results: There was mean increase in the fatigue level in control group and mean decrease in fatigue level in experimental group when warm footbath is given which was found statistically significant at p<0.05. The pre-test insomnia score in control group was 6.47±(4.24) which was increased to 13.63±(3.03)in post-test. The pre-test insomnia score in experimental group was 8.77±(2.88) which has decreased to 6.47±(5.38) in post-test. Positive correlation was found between fatigue and insomnia. Conclusion: It is concluded that the warm footbath was effective in reducing fatigue and insomnia in cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy.