title: Efficacy of a footbath for post-partum fatigue in South Korea: A quasi-experimental study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of a footbath on post-partum fatigue.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study used a quasi-experimental design by using an unequivalent control group, pre-post-test design. The participants were divided into experimental and control groups. Fifty post-partum women who were admitted to an obstetrics and gynecology ward of a general hospital were the experimental group and 50 post-partum women who were admitted to an obstetrics and gynecology ward of a women's hospital were the control group. Two hospitals were providing similar postnatal care to their patients and they were located in the same city. The experimental group received a footbath along with postnatal care at the hospital, while the control group received only postnatal care from the hospital. Each group completed the Fatigue Continuum Form at a specified time.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The general characteristics and pretest dependent variables were homogenous between the two groups. The hypothesis was supported post-test as the Fatigue Continuum Form scores differed significantly between the experimental and the control groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study showed that a footbath helps to decrease fatigue among post-partum women. In addition, it is a good preventative strategy for post-partum women who should initiate it in the early post-partum period.
authors: Department of Nursing, Wonkwang University Hospital, Iksan, South Korea.
authors: Eunsun
authors: E
authors: Choi
authors: Department of Nursing, Wonkwang University, Iksan, South Korea.
authors: Eunju
authors: E
authors: Song
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005221:Fatigue; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D056910:Republic of Korea; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: fatigue; footbath; post-partum