Effectiveness of Foot Massage on Level of Pain among Patients with Cancer

 

Jeenath Justin Doss K.

Assistant Professor, Joitiba College of Nursing, LCIT Campus, Visnagar Ta., Bhandu Po., Mehsana Dist. -384120

*Corresponding Author Email:  jeenath4u@gmail.com

 

ABSTRACT:

The reduction of pain of patients with cancer has an important role to play in enabling effectiveness of foot massage intervention as an independent nursing intervention. The objective of the study is to evaluate the effectiveness of foot massage on level of pain among the patients with cancer.

 

The research design adopted was quasi-experimental time series pre-test, post-test with control group design. The conceptual framework for this study was based on Wiedenbach’s helping art of clinical nursing theory (1964). The study has been conducted in Devaki cancer hospital and research institute, Madurai.

 

Non-probability purposive sampling technique has been adopted to select the desired sample.  The sample size was 60. As an intervention of 30 minutes of foot massage was administered for experimental group. The data was collected through Numerical Pain assessment scale which is from 0-10 range. 

 

The collected data were analyzed by using both descriptive and inferential statistical methods.  ‘F’ test was used to evaluate the effectiveness of foot massage on level of cancer pain among the patients with cancer. The obtained ‘F’ value was 50.103.The findings of the study revealed that foot massage helps in decreasing the level of pain among the patients with cancer.

 

KEY WORDS: Effectiveness, Foot massage, Cancer pain, Cancer.

 

INTRODUCTION:

“Freedom from the pain should be a basic human right limited only by our knowledge to achieve it” –

Liebenskind Ifmelrach (1989)

 

“Human Touch”- is a powerful expression of care, acceptance and emotional nourishment. Many people with cancer wonder whether any complementary therapies can help them.  Massage and other gentle body work techniques that focus on the positive effects of human touch are very popular complementary therapies.  Touch is essential like food and water.

 

 

People with cancer experience pain, anxiety and mood disturbance. Conventional treatments do not always satisfactorily relieve these symptoms and same patients may not be able to tolerate their side effects.  Therapeutic foot massage as a cancer pain intervention appears to be safe and effective. Patients who receive massage have less pain, nausea and anxiety and report improved quality of life.  The use of massage in cancer care centers and hospitals is on the rise.

 

Need for the Study

“For all the happiness mankind can gain is not in pleasure but in relief from pain”              

- John Dryden

 

According to US census bureau (2009) cancer in all forms are causing about 12% of deaths throughout the world.  In the developed countries cancer is the second leading cause of death next to cardiovascular disease and in developing countries cancer ranks 3rd as a cause of death and accounts for 9.5% of total death.

 

According to cancer institute New Delhi, India (2009), there are approximately 2 - 2.5 million cancer cases and 8 lakhs new cases being detected each year.  According to TATA Memorial hospital, India (2009) that 60% of death from India and China are due to cancer.

 

According to World Health Organization (2009) Head and neck/oral cancer (HNOC) is the sixth most common cancer worldwide accounting for 4% of cancers in men and 2% of cancers in women. In some parts of the world, including Southern China and the Indian subcontinent, HNOC is a major cancer problem.

 

In US, one patient dies from HNOC every hour. According to American Cancer Society-Cancer Statistics, the new cases for HNOC increased approximately 25% during the past 5 years, where the overall new cancer cases only increased about 5% in the same period.

 

According to American cancer society (SHIRLEY E. OTTO, 1996)

•         40% to 80 % of patients with any type of cancer experience pain

•        70 % to 90 % of patients with  advanced cancer  experience moderate to severe pain (Foley)

•        Recent surveys shows that 40% to 50% of patients fail to achieve adequate relief of cancer pain.

Even though getting narcotics, the cancer patients experience pain. So the researcher selected this study to evaluate the effectiveness of foot massage on level of pain.

 

OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY:

To evaluate the effectiveness of foot massage on level of pain among the patients with cancer.

 

HYPOTHESIS: 

Foot massage will be effective in reducing the pain among patients with cancer.

 

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK:

Conceptual framework for this present study was developed on the basis of Ernestine Wiedenbach’s clinical nursing practice theory. She proposed her theory in 1964 as a prescriptive theory of nursing.  Prescriptive theory directs action toward an explicit goal.

 

It consists of 3 factors. Central purpose, prescription and realities. A nurse develops a prescription based on a central purpose and implements it according to the realities of the situation.

 

According to Wiedenbach, nursing practice consists of identifying a patient’s need for help, ministering the needed help, validating the need for help was met and coordination of help.

 

 

MATERIAL AND

METHODS:

The Schematic Representation of Research Methodology

FINDINGS:

•        Among patients with cancer pain, most of them were between 39-58 years, female sex, Hindus, had 1-3 years of duration of illness, had chronic type of pain and were at second stage of cancer.

•        Regarding the level of cancer pain in experimental and control group most of them reported severe pain on day 1 in both groups, on day 2 most of them reported moderate level of pain in experimental group and there were no measurable difference in control group, on day 3 most of them reported mild level of pain and no pain in experimental group and in control group where there were no greater changes.

•        With regard to effectiveness of foot massage on level of cancer pain, the obtained ‘F’ value for level of pain in control group was 2.837 not at significant level and in experimental group was 50.103 that was highly significant at p<0.001 level.

•        With regard to the association between the level of pain with their selected demographic variables and clinical variables such as age, sex, occupation, religion, duration of illness, type of pain, stage of cancer there were significant association found with sex and stage of cancer and others were non-significant.

 

CONCLUSION:

The main conclusion from this present study is that most of the cancer patients with pain in experimental group had severe and moderate level of pain in pre test and mild level and no pain in post test I, II and III. This shows the imperative need to understand the purpose of foot massage technique regarding reduction of pain among the patients with cancer and it will improve the quality of life which includes the stability in physiological, psychological, sexual, vocational and lifestyle aspects.

 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:

A journey is easier when we travel together. Interdependence is certainly more valuable than independence. This dissertation is the result of unbound, immeasurable contribution and support from many people. It is a pleasure that, I have an opportunity to express my gratitude to all of them. I honestly express my sincere thanks and gratitude to my clients and their family for their cooperation.

 

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Received on 01.10.2013           Modified on 11.12.2013

Accepted on 22.12.2013           © A&V Publication all right reserved

Asian J. Nur. Edu. & Research 4(2): April- June 2014; Page 228-231