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

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.