A Study to Evaluate the Effectiveness of Foot Massage Therapy to Reduce Pain Among Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients in Selected Hospital at Bangalore

Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of foot massage therapy to reduce pain among rheumatoid arthritis patients; the research approach adopted for this study was an evaluative approach. Pre –experimental one group pretestposttest design was used. The conceptual frame work used King’s Goal Attainment Theory; investigator hadutilized non probability convenient sampling technique to select 30 samples within the age group of 40-80 years old patients.

The tool used for data collection was modified pain and physical disability assessment scale from Oswestry and Wong Baker Visual Analog Scale. The data collection procedure started with the pretest data record for their level of pain and physical disability of subjects. Then the investigator provided foot massage for 15 minutes once a day for 5 consecutive days and the investigator assessed the post test on5^rd day with the help of same instrument for pain and physical disability for the same group. The data reliability was r = 0.941 and validity of tool ensured before proceeding the data collection.

RESULTS

• According the general finding the study, out of 30 subject’s, 14(47 %) within the age group of 51-60 years: 19(63%) of the subjects were females: 14(47%) were from Hindu: 30(100%) found Married: 12(40%) studied up to high school level of education: 15(50%) were had heavy work occupation: 13(43.3%) between Rs.5001-Rs.10000, monthly family income: and 25(83%) subjects were non-vegetarian dietary pattern.


• Pre-test level of pain and physical disability showed that majority of the subjects 19(63.33%) had severe pain physical disability, 11(36.67%) of the subjects had moderate pain physical disability and no one of them had mild pain physical disability before application of foot massage.


• Post-test level of pain and physical disability showed that majority of the subjects 22(73.33%) had mild pain physical disability, 8(26.66%) of the subjects had moderate pain &physical disability and no one of them had severe pain and physical disability after application of foot massage.It revealed that the‘t’ value on level of pain and physical disability was 23.70 score. The value is significant at p (<0.001) level. This indicates that the difference in level of pain before and after foot massage application is significant. Hence the hypothesis (H₁) is supported.


• The association of pre-test level of pain and physical disability of patients with ages, occupation and family monthly income variables revealed that it is significantly associated as it proofed by the chi-square score of (?2) of = 7.9 (1.815 at p< 0.005 level of 3df), (?2) of = 6.41 (5.991) at p< 0.005 level of 2df) and (?2) of = 6.18 (2.990) at p< 0.005 level of 2df), respectively, Hence these findings support the H₂

INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSION

Thus, the above result reveals that there is reduction of pain and physical disabilityafter foot massage therapy among rheumatoid arthritisof patients.