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.

Inclusion Criteria: Aged 18 years or older Scheduled to undergo elective coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery Voluntarily agreed to participate and provided informed consent Able to communicate verbally and understand the study procedures Hemodynamically stable following transfer from the intensive care unit to the cardiovascular surgery ward Reported a postoperative pain intensity of ≥4 on the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) Had no condition preventing the safe application of foot massage, including foot skin infection, local infection, open wound or lesion, significant edema or hematoma, thrombophlebitis, deep vein thrombosis, coagulation disorder, severe varicose veins, osteomyelitis, peripheral neuropathy, recent fracture, dislocation, or major musculoskeletal injury involving the lower extremities Exclusion Criteria: Development of a postoperative complication that prevented continuation of the intervention or study assessments Withdrawal of consent during the study Inability to complete the planned intervention or follow-up assessments