The Effect of Foot Massage After Open Heart Surgery on Postoperative Pain, Sleep Quality and Mood of Patients

The randomized controlled experimental study was conducted in the cardiovascular surgery clinic of Atatürk University Health Practice and Research Center between April 2021 and September 2021.The research sample consisted of 91 patients who met the research criteria. Since exclusion criteria were met in 15 patients during the research process, the study was completed with 76 patients. Descriptive Information Form, Visual Analog Scale, State-Trait Anxiety Scale, Visual Analog Sleep Scale and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale were used as data collection tools. All scales were applied to the patients preoperatively. According to the Postoperative Visual Analog Scale, the patients in the experimental group who stated that they had more than 4 pains were given foot massage for a total of 20 minutes, 10 minutes on each foot. After the surgery, classical foot massage was applied to the patients for 3 consecutive days, including the day they came to the service from the intensive care unit. One day after each application, the patients' pain, sleep quality and mood levels were examined. Data were collected by applying the same procedure steps without foot massage to the patients in the control group.

Pain still remains a major problem in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Pain and anxiety are conditions that should be evaluated together and affect each other. Anxiety has a significant effect on the reduction or increase in post-operative pain. Pain experienced after surgery increases the anxiety of the individual. Increasing anxiety level negatively affects sleep quality. The inability to manage the pain experienced in the early postoperative period and the associated anxiety negatively affect the healing process, increasing the risk of complications that may occur after the surgery, which negatively affects the quality of life. It also increases mortality and morbidity rates. Pain management is very important because of the negative effects seen due to pain. It is seen that there are many pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods used to prevent pain and anxiety experienced after surgical intervention. One of these methods is massage, which is known for its therapeutic and healing effects and has a positive effect on the body. It is predicted that with the foot massage applied after coronary artery bypass graft surgery, the postoperative pain and anxiety level of the patients will decrease, it will have a positive effect on their mood and their sleep quality will increase. In addition, it is thought that with the increase of studies on the application of foot massage in patients who have undergone coronary artery bypass graft surgery, a non-pharmacological routine application can be created on patients in surgical services and the level of satisfaction in nursing can be increased.