Efficacy of a footbath for post-partum fatigue in South Korea: A quasi-experimental study

Abstract

Aim: The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of a footbath on post-partum fatigue.

Methods: This study used a quasi-experimental design by using an unequivalent control group, pre-post-test design. The participants were divided into experimental and control groups. Fifty post-partum women who were admitted to an obstetrics and gynecology ward of a general hospital were the experimental group and 50 post-partum women who were admitted to an obstetrics and gynecology ward of a women's hospital were the control group. Two hospitals were providing similar postnatal care to their patients and they were located in the same city. The experimental group received a footbath along with postnatal care at the hospital, while the control group received only postnatal care from the hospital. Each group completed the Fatigue Continuum Form at a specified time.

Results: The general characteristics and pretest dependent variables were homogenous between the two groups. The hypothesis was supported post-test as the Fatigue Continuum Form scores differed significantly between the experimental and the control groups.

Conclusion: This study showed that a footbath helps to decrease fatigue among post-partum women. In addition, it is a good preventative strategy for post-partum women who should initiate it in the early post-partum period.

Keywords: fatigue; footbath; post-partum.