Complementary therapies in clinical practice | 2021
The effect of hand and foot massage on fatigue in hemodialysis patients: A randomized controlled trial.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE\nThe aim of this study was to examine the effect of hand massage and foot massage on fatigue in hemodialysis patients.\n\n\nMETHODS\nThis randomized, controlled and quasi-experimental study was conducted between October 19, 2018 and February 11, 2019 with patients receiving hemodialysis therapy in the dialysis unit of a public hospital in Turkey. Data were collected using a Patient Identification Form and the Visual Analogue Scale for Fatigue. The study was carried out with 82 patients in three groups: a hand massage group (n\xa0=\xa027), a foot massage group (n\xa0=\xa027) and a control group (n\xa0=\xa028). The patients in the control group were not administered any treatments except for standard nursing interventions in the hemodialysis unit.\n\n\nRESULTS\nIn between-groups comparison the hand and foot massage groups mean fatigue score decreased after the application compared to that of the control group (p\xa0<\xa00.05).\n\n\nCONCLUSIONS\nHand and foot massage were found to reduce fatigue in patients receiving hemodialysis.