European Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine

Background: This study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of hand and foot massage therapy on post-operative pain among patients undergoing cardiothoracic surgery and evaluate the effectiveness of hand and foot massage therapy on anxiety among patients undergoing cardiothoracic surgery. Methods: This was a hospital-based study conducted among 60 patients who underwent cardiothoracic surgery in the cardiothoracic ICU of Medical College Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram, after obtaining clearance from the institutional ethics committee and written informed consent from the study participants. Results: It is evident that the mean age of participants in the experimental group was 50.43 and the standard deviation was 11.61 and the mean age of the control group was 54.53 and the standard deviation was 8.25. Hence, the difference was not statistically significant because both groups were not comparable with respect to age. 80% of participants in the experimental group and 60% in the control group were males whereas 40% of participants in the experimental group and 20% in the control group were females. Hence, the difference was not statistically significant, both groups were comparable with respect to gender. In the distribution of participants based on type of analgesic, effectiveness of hand and foot massage therapy on postoperative pain among patients undergoing cardiothoracic surgery, the effectiveness of hand and foot massage therapy on postoperative anxiety among patients undergoing cardiothoracic surgery were found to be statistically significant. Conclusion: Hand and foot massage therapy has been found to be effective in reducing postoperative anxiety among cardiothoracic surgery patients.