Vol. 4, Issue 5, Part G (2018)

Methodology: An experimental research approach was adopted for the study. Purposive sampling technique was used to select the study subjects. Data was collected by using Demographic and Clinical Proforma, Numeric Pain Scale, Faces Anxiety Scale, Six item Short Form of State Trait Anxiety Inventory and Physiological Parameter Checklist. Pre-test was conducted before half an hour of intervention (massage) in the morning and evening on day 1, day 2 and day 3. Intervention was given for a period of 20 minutes after the pre-test. Post-tests were conducted at 30 mins and 60 mins after the intervention in the morning and evening on day1, day2 and day 3.

Results: There was a significant difference between the pre-test and post-test scores of pain (F=2.92, p<0.05) between the experimental and control group. There was a significant difference in the post-test scores of pain (post-test1, t=2.81, post-test 2- t=4.03), p<0.05 in day 1 evening (post-test 2, t=3.84, p<0.05), day 2 morning (post-test 2, t=5.14, p<0.05), day 3 morning, (post-test 1, t=5.202, p<0.001), (post-test2, t=2.18, p<0.05) and day 3 evening (post-test1, t=5.68, post-test 2, t=6.25, p<0.001). Significant difference was found in the pre-test and post-test anxiety score (F = 2.92, p<0.05) in the experimental group compared to control group. There was significant difference in the post-test 2 scores of anxiety on day 2 (Morning: t=3.270, Evening: t=2.825, p<0.001), day 3 morning (post-test 1, t=2.466, p<0.05), (post-test 2, t=4.172, p<0.001) and day 3 evening (post-test 2, t=4.987, p<0.001).Also significant difference in post-test anxiety scores on day 1 (morning: post-test 2, t=2.990, evening: post-test 2, t=2.781, p<0.001), Day 2 morning (post-test 2, t=2.950, p<0.001) using six item short form of state anxiety inventory. There was a significant difference in the post-test 2 scores of respiratory rate on day 2 morning (t=3.120, p<0.001), evening (t=3.237, p<0.001) and in the post-test2 scores on day 3 (morning: t=3.159, p<0.001, evening: t=2.598, p<0.05). Significant difference was found in the post-test 1 scores of heart rate on day 1 (morning: t=2.818, p<0.05, evening :t=2.65, p<0.05) There was no association of pre-test scores of pain, anxiety and selected physiological parameters with demographic variables.

Conclusion: The findings of the study demonstrated that foot and hand massage was effective non-pharmacological methods to reduce pain and anxiety in postoperative open heart surgery patients. Providing complementary therapies like foot and hand massage to open heart surgery patients will significantly reduce pain and anxiety level.