title: Exploring the effect of foot massage on agitated behaviours in older people with dementia: a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the effects of foot massage on agitated behaviours in older people with dementia living in long-term care.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventeen men and 5 women (mean age 84.7 years), with a diagnosis of dementia and a history of clinically significant agitation, received a 10-minute foot massage each day for 14 days. The short form of the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory (CMAI-SF) and the Revised Memory and Behavior Problems Checklist (RMBPC) were completed at baseline, post-test and 2-weeks follow up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CMAI-SF and RMBPC scores were significantly reduced at post-test and remained significantly lower than baseline at follow up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provides preliminary evidence suggesting that limited short-duration foot massage reduces agitation and related behavioural problems in people with dementia, and that these behaviour changes are maintained after the massage ceases. A randomised controlled trial is required to confirm these findings.
authors.affiliation: Griffith Health Institute, RCCCPI, Griffith University, Nathan, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. w.moyle@griffith.edu.au
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Moyle
authors.forename: Amy Nicole Burne
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.forename: Siobhan Therese
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: O'Dwyer
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D057189:Checklist; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D008405:Massage; D009735:Nursing Homes; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011595:Psychomotor Agitation; D011793:Queensland; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome