The effectiveness of nursing interventions on fatigue and sleep quality in hospitalized cancer patients: the role of foot massage and bed bath
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study designs: Randomized Controlled Trial, Clinical Trial
Abstract: BACKGROUND: In diseases requiring long-term treatment, such as cancer, the importance of holistic nursing support is increasing. Both foot massage and bed baths are holistic care methods that address patients' physical, emotional, and psychological needs, and research indicates they can effectively reduce symptoms like fatigue and sleep disturbances. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate and compare the effects of foot massage and bed baths on fatigue and sleep quality in hospitalized cancer patients. METHOD: The research was conducted with hospitalized patients in the oncology clinic of a university hospital between April and November 2024, employing a three-group randomized controlled experimental design. The study included 39 cancer patients who were randomly assigned to three groups: Foot Massage (FM) (n = 12), Bed Bath (BB) (n = 12), and Control (n = 15). The treatments were administered for four consecutive days, two hours before bedtime, with each session lasting 30 min. The control group received routine care without additional interventions. Data was collected using the Patient Information Form, the Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI), and the Richard Campbell Sleep Questionnaire (RCSQ), through five repeated measurements. RESULTS: Before the interventions began, there were no significant differences between the groups in terms of fatigue or sleep quality. Regarding the BFI scores, on days three (p < .05) and four (p < .001) the FM group demonstrated lower mean scores compared with both the BB group and the control group. On day five, the BFI scores of the FM group and the BB group remained lower than those of the control group, and this difference reached statistical significance (p < .001). Regarding the RCSQ scores, starting from day three, the FM group exhibited significantly higher mean scores than the control group (p < .05 and p < .001). From day four onward, the BB group also demonstrated significantly higher RCSQ scores compared with the control group (p < .001). No significant differences were observed between the FM and BB groups regarding the RCSQ (p > .05). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that foot massage and bed baths serve as effective supplementary nursing interventions for reducing fatigue and improving sleep quality in hospitalized cancer patients. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: NCT06373614. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials. gov Registry (NCT06373614) in April 2024.
Source: Supportive Care in Cancer
Authors: Ayşe Kabuk, Ufuk Demirel, Demet Inangil
Language: English
Topic: Cancer survivorship and care
Subfield: Oncology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,690
Funder: Sağlık Bilimleri Üniversitesi
OpenAlex ID: W7127942094