Effect of Warm Foot Baths on Sleep Quality and Fatigue in Gastroenterology Patients: A Randomized Controlled Study
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PRACTICE, cilt.2026, sa.1, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 2026 Sayı: 1
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.1155/ijcp/1031186
- Dergi Adı: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PRACTICE
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, CINAHL, EMBASE, Directory of Open Access Journals, Biomedical Reference Collection: Corporate Edition (EBSCO), Health Research Premium Collection (ProQuest)
- Bursa Uludağ Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Background Gastroenterology patients who have declining sleep quality and who experience sleeping problems frequently complain of fatigue. There is a need for research into easy-to-use, inexpensive, and safe nonpharmacological methods for health professionals to improve gastroenterology patients' sleep quality and fatigue in the clinical setting. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of warm foot baths given to patients in the gastroenterology clinic on the patients' levels of sleep quality and fatigue severity. Methods This was a randomized controlled experimental study. The study was conducted between December 2024 and April 2025 with 60 patients admitted to a gastroenterology clinic in Turkey. Sixty patients who conformed to the research criteria were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 30) and a control group (n = 30). Patients in the experimental group were given a warm foot bath lasting 20 min with water at 41 degrees C-42 degrees C on three consecutive nights. No application was performed on the control group. The patients' sleep quality and fatigue severity were assessed and recorded on the three consecutive mornings. Results In comparing the differences in sleep quality scores recorded on the mornings of the intervention days for the patients in the experimental group, a statistically significant difference was found between the mean sleep quality scores of the third day and the first day, and between the mean sleep quality scores of the third day and the second day, indicating an increase in sleep quality (p < 0.001 and p = 0.002, respectively). Furthermore, when comparing the differences in fatigue severity scores recorded on the mornings of the intervention days for the patients in the experimental group, a statistically significant difference was found between the mean fatigue severity scores of the third day and the first day, and between the mean fatigue severity scores of the second day and the first day, indicating a decrease in fatigue severity (p < 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively). When the sleep quality and fatigue severity of the patients in the control group at similar times on the first, second, and third days were compared, no significant difference was found (p = 0.651 and p = 0.829, respectively). Conclusion It was concluded from this study that sleep quality increased and fatigue severity decreased after patients were given a warm foot bath on three consecutive days. Healthcare professionals may administer warm foot baths in a clinical setting to patients as a nonpharmacological alternative to increase sleep quality and reduce fatigue severity.