Tutor, Obstetrics and Gynaecological Nursing Department, Sri Gokulam College of Nursing, Salem-10, Tamilnadu, India
Online published on 11 February, 2016.
The post-caesarean section pain is characterized as acute, that is, it presents a subtle beginning with a predictable end, and is closely related to the damage caused to the tissue due to the inflammatory reactions derived from a traumatic process, which produce pain. Acute and unrelieved pain can cause physical and mental complications, delayed recovery and prolonged hospitalization. Although analgesia is used to relieve pain, its complication, unavailability, necessity of taking low drug and also ineffectiveness of using analgesia alone to relieve pain has focused today's nursing system on complementary treatments and non pharmacological Interventions.4
A Study was conducted to evaluate the Effectiveness of Hand and Foot Massage on Pain among Postcaesarean mothers at Selected Hospitals, Salem.
Quasi experimental pre test post test control group design
60 postcaesarean mothers (30 experimental and 30 control groups)
The structured interview schedule was used to collect demographic variables Numerical Pain Intensity Scale was used to assess the pain. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used.
The study findings showed that in experimental group 24(80%) were multi gravid, whereas in control group 17(56.67%) were multi gravid. In experimental group 24(80%) had previous history of caesarean section and in control group 15(50%) had history of both. The mean pre test score in experimental group was 6.4±0.56 and mean post test score was 3.5±0.79. The‘t’ value was 33.72 which is significant at p≤0.05 level. The mean score in experimental group was 3.5±0.79 and mean score in control group was 6.1±0.65. The ‘t’ value was 15.66 which was significant at p≤0.05 level. There was a significant association between educational status and pain among postcaesarean mothers in experimental group. There was no significant association between demographic variables and pain among postcaesarean mothers in control group. Hence Hand and Foot Massage is one of the alternative and complementary therapies, which is simple, safe and cost effective and found to be effective in reducing pain after caesarean section and also promotes psychological wellbeing of the mother.
It was concluded that Hand and Foot Massage is effective in reducing pain among postcaesarean mothers.
Hand and Foot Massage, Pain, Postcaesarean Mothers, experimental and control group
