A Comparative Study to Assess the Effectiveness of Hand Massage and Foot Massage on Pain Reduction among Post Cesarean Mothers at Gauhati Medical College & Hospital, Guwahati, Assam

Background: Cesarean section is the most frequently performed surgery in the world. WHO reviewed 1,07,950 births from nine countries in Asia including India, China, Japan, Nepal and Sri Lanka during 2007-2008, and found that 27% births were delivered by cesarean section. The word massage is derived from the Latin word ?Massa? meaning to touch, handle, squeeze or knead. Massage is a powerful part of pain management which provides relaxation and reduces stress to the patient. In India, massage therapy is licensed by The Department of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (India) in March 1995. Objective of the study: To compare the effectiveness of hand massage and foot massage on pain reduction among post cesarean mothers. Material and Methods: A Quantitative Research approach with quasi experimental non randomized control group design was adopted. Convenient sampling technique was used to select 60 post cesarean mothers among which 20 were in hand massage group, 20 were in foot massage group and 20 were in control group. The data was collected using demographic performa, Numerical Pain Rating Scale for post cesarean pain assessment. Hand massage was given to hand massage group for 5 minutes in each hand, total of 10 minutes for 2 times a day (morning and evening) with olive oil for first 2 days and, foot massage was given to foot massage group for 5 minutes in each foot, total of 10 minutes for 2 times a day (morning and evening) with olive oil for first 2 days. Data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Result: The effectiveness of hand massage and foot massage of post-test pain score among post cesarean mothers in hand massage group and foot massage group showed that mean post-test pain score in hand massage group was 4.75?0.910 and mean post-test pain score in foot massage group was 1.75?0.910 with mean difference was 3.0. Comparison between mean post-test pain score in hand massage group and foot massage group was done using unpaired ?t? test with obtained t value (t=10.42) at df=38 was statistically highly significant at pless than0.05 level. Hence research hypothesis (H6) is accepted and null hypothesis (H06) is rejected and is concluded that that foot massage was more effective in pain reduction among post cesarean mothers as compared to hand massage group.