Effect of Foot Bath on Pain, Sleep, and Comfort Levels After Abdominal Surgery

Trakya University

Status: Not yet enrolling

Conditions: Pain, Postoperative; Sleep

Treatments: Other: Foot bath device

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07366567

2025/284

Details and patient eligibility

About

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of foot bath application on pain level, comfort and sleep quality in the postoperative period.

H1: Foot baths have a postoperative pain-reducing effect. H2: Foot baths have a postoperative comfort-enhancing effect. H3: Foot baths have a postoperative sleep-improving effect.

Full description

The research will be conducted with the participation of surgical patients who underwent abdominal surgery between December 2025 and December 2026 in the General Surgery Department of Tekirdag University Hospital.

Using the G*Power 3.1.9.4 program, the minimum number of people to be included in the sample was found to be 88 (44:44), assuming an effect size of 0.8 at a 95% confidence level and a 95% power ratio. To avoid the risk of sample loss, it was decided to include 48 patients in each group.

Enrollment: 96 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• who are hospitalized in the General Surgery Clinic,
• are on day 0 of surgery,
• volunteer to participate in the study,
• have no neuropsychiatric diagnosis and are not taking antipsychotic medications,
• are over 18 years of age,
• accept random selection,
• and undergo abdominal surgery.
• For the experimental group, all patients with no infectious diseases (shingles, fungal infections, eczema, warts, calluses), local infections (abscesses, etc.), open lesions/wounds, scar tissue, edema, hematomas, thrombophlebitis, deep vein thrombosis, lymphangitis, coagulation disorders, varicose veins, osteoporosis, osteomyelitis, hepatitis, degenerative joint diseases, neuropathy due to diabetes, toe deformities, recent fractures, dislocations, or ruptures of muscle fibers, tendons, or ligaments will be included in the sample.

Exclusion criteria

• patients who underwent multiple simultaneous surgeries along with abdominal surgery,
• those with postoperative complications such as delirium,
• those who underwent reoperation,
• those with a pain score >7 because it could affect sleep levels,
• and those who received narcotic analgesics on postoperative day 0 due to pain will be excluded from the sample.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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96 participants in 2 patient groups

Experimental group (with Foot Bath Device Foot Bath Application (20 min, 41-42°C)

Experimental group

Description:

Postoperative Preparation: The intervention will commence once the effects of anesthesia have subsided and initial mobilization (routinely 6-8 hours post-surgery) has been achieved. At approximately 9:00 PM, the patient's feet will be prepared by removing socks or adjusting anti-embolic stockings above the ankle . A visual and physical examination of the feet will be conducted to screen for contraindications such as pressure injuries, wounds, or discoloration. Foot Bath Intervention: The foot bath procedure will be performed using a disinfected device lined with single-use, watertight bags to ensure hygiene.The water temperature will be strictly maintained at 41-42°C, verified by a non-contact infrared digital thermometer. Both feet will be immersed in the device for a duration of 20 minutes. Post-intervention, the researcher will thoroughly dry the patient's feet and replace their socks or anti-embolic stockings. Any adverse events or side effects observed, recorded.

Treatment:

Other: Foot bath device

Control group Control group (Standard care (no foot bath procedure)

No Intervention group

Description:

Patients in the control group will receive routine care. Patient Recruitment and Preoperative Phase: Patients admitted to the General Surgery department for abdominal surgery will be informed about the study on the morning of their procedure. Following the acquisition of both verbal and written informed consent, the Patient Information Form will be completed. To establish a baseline for sleep quality, the Richards-Campbell Sleep Questionnaire (RCSQ) will be administered preoperatively. No foot bath application will be in question for the patients in the control group. Data Collection and Conclusion: On the morning of the first postoperative day, the RCSQ, GKO (Visual Analog Scale/Global Quality Scale), and pain scores will be administered to evaluate the intervention's impact. The data collection process will conclude following these assessments.