title: The effects of warm-water footbath on relieving fatigue and insomnia of the gynecologic cancer patients on chemotherapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Most patients experience fatigue during chemotherapy. Ignoring this fatigue can contribute to worsening overall health of patients and a slowed recovery process.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We investigated the effectiveness of a warm-water footbath on relieving fatigue and insomnia problems in patients undergoing chemotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a 2-group, longitudinal study design. Adults diagnosed with gynecologic cancer and receiving a 4-series platinum chemotherapy regimen were recruited and then followed up for 6 months. They completed fatigue and insomnia items on the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 7th, and 14th days after each scheduled chemotherapy. Participants in the experimental group soaked their feet in 41°C to 42°C warm water for 20 minutes every evening, starting from the eve of receiving the first chemotherapy, whereas participants in the comparison group did not do so.
  
  
  RESULTS
  : There were 25 and 18 participants in the comparison and experimental groups, respectively, who completed the study. Participants in the experimental group reported a significant reduction in fatigue and improvement in sleep quality from the second session of chemotherapy and continued to improve during the study period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A warm-water footbath intervention resulted in reduced fatigue and insomnia symptoms for gynecologic cancer patients during chemotherapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A warm-water footbath is local moist heat application. It is noninvasive and easy to apply at home. The findings provide empirical support that a warm-water footbath relieves fatigue and insomnia problems of patients undergoing chemotherapy. It can be a nonpharmaceutical method to help patients overcome fatigue and sleep problems during chemotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Taipei Veteran General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Huei-Lin
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Xue-Ping
authors.initials: XP
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Kwo-Chen
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Fuei-Fen
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: Yann-Fen
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Chao
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001494:Baths / Q000379:methods; D005221:Fatigue / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot; D005833:Genital Neoplasms, Female / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006358:Hot Temperature / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D006875:Hydrotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017671:Platinum Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000628:therapy*; D014867:Water; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D017671:Platinum Compounds; D014867:Water