A study to assess the effectiveness of hot water foot bath therapy on body temerature among patients with fever in selected icus of a tertiary care hospital, Ludhiana, Punjab

Background of the study: Fever itself is not an illness. A fever is a common side effect of illness like the flu. It happens when there is a temporary rise in body temperature. A fever is usually a sign that immune system is busy fighting an infection or other illness. Water is an excellent conductor, which allows it to transfer heat effectively and quickly. Water has a temperature conducting capacity twenty-seven times that of air. Water gives up its heat rapidly, but does not cool quickly. When Hot Water Foot Bath applied for 15-20 minutes the blood vessels in the feet starts expanding and gets improved circulation, neutralizing acid and relieving aches, tiredness and fever. The improved blood circulation resets the hypothalamic set points by heat transfer from higher heat area to lower heat area. Objectives: To assess the effectiveness of hot water foot bath therapy on body temperature among patients with fever. Methodology: Quantitative approach was used for the study. Pre-test and post-test control group design was used to conduct the study. This study was conducted in ICUs of DMCH, Ludhiana, and Punjab. The target population consists patients with fever admitted in ICUs of DMCH, Ludhiana, Punjab. Purposive sampling technique was used to draw sample from target population as per inclusion and exclusion criteria. With lottery method patients were divided in (N= 50) n1 (group 1) = 25 Experimental group and n2 (group 2) = 25 Control group . Pre assessment of body temperature was done using standardized scale digital thermometer. For experimental group hot water foot bath therapy 42 °C (107.6 °F) was given for 15 minutes. A post assessment of body temperature was done to determine the effectiveness of hot water foot bath therapy. Result: The findings of the study showed that significant difference has been found in experimental group and control group in pre-assessment mean of body temperature (100.632±0.4110) (100.624 ± 0.4944) and post -assessment mean of body temperature (99.424±0.5811) (100.648 ± 0.5516) respectively at p<0.05 level of significant. Conclusion: The finding of the study demonstrated that hot water foot bath therapy was an effective non pharmacological method to reduce the body temperature. The mean post assessment body temperature were lower than mean pre assessment body temperature. There was significant difference found in pre-assessment and post assessment in experimental group.