Effectiveness Not Established

Footbath

for Peripheral Neuropathy

Soaking the feet in warm water has been examined for its effect on sleep disturbances in patients with cancer, due to the potential for a warm water foot bath to facilitate relaxation.

Research Evidence Summaries

Park, R., & Park, C. (2015). Comparison of foot bathing and foot massage in chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. Cancer Nursing, 38, 239–247. 

Study Purpose

To assess the effects of foot bathing and foot massage for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy

Intervention Characteristics/Basic Study Process

Patients receiving taxane- or platinum-based chemotherapy were alternately assigned to receive foot baths or foot massage. Both interventions were performed for 30 minutes three times every other day during the patients' hospital stay and five additional times in the home. When at home, phone calls were made to encourage compliance with the intervention. Primary caregivers were instructed in procedures. Study assessments were conducted after the first and eighth treatments. A water temperature of 40 degrees centigrade was used for foot baths.

Sample Characteristics

  • N = 48   
  • MEAN AGE = 58.94 years
  • MALES: 58.33%, FEMALES: 41.67%
  • CURRENT TREATMENT: Chemotherapy
  • KEY DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Stomach or colorectal cancer
  • OTHER KEY SAMPLE CHARACTERISTICS: One-fourth were receiving gabapentin, and one-third were using opioids, for pain.

Setting

  • SITE: Single site   
  • SETTING TYPE: Inpatient    
  • LOCATION: Republic of Korea

Phase of Care and Clinical Applications

PHASE OF CARE: Active antitumor treatment

Study Design

Two-group, prospective trial

Measurement Instruments/Methods

  • Forehead and foot skin temperatures
  • Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) toxicity scale for sensory items only
  • Functional Assessment for Cancer Therapy Gynecologic Oncology Group-Neurotoxicity (FACT/GOG-NT) for quality of life

Results

Foot skin temperature increased about 2 degrees in patients receiving the foot baths and increased less than 1 degree in those receiving foot massage (p = 0.001). There was no significant difference between the groups in grade of sensory neurotoxicity. Those receiving the foot bath reported improved emotional and functional well-being (p < 0.02).

Conclusions

Neither foot baths nor foot massage resulted in improvement in sensory neurotoxicity scores. Those receiving foot baths had increased skin temperature immediately after the intervention and reported improved well-being.

Limitations

  • Small sample (< 100)
  • Risk of bias (no control group)
  • Risk of bias (no blinding)
  • Risk of bias (no random assignment)
  • Unintended interventions or applicable interventions not described that would influence results
  • Measurement validity/reliability questionable
  • Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy measurement not very sensitive
  • No information as to whether any medications for neuropathic symptoms changed over the course of the study

Nursing Implications

Foot baths and foot massage did not demonstrate results in improvement in sensory symptoms in this study. Patients may experience an improved sense of well-being with foot baths.

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