Effectiveness of Hot Water Footbath Therapy on Sleep Quality Among Elderly Residents of Selected Old Age Homes: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Abstract

Background: Sleep disturbances are prevalent among the elderly and often remain untreated or under-managed. Non-pharmacological interventions, such as hot water footbaths, have gained attention for their simplicity, affordability, and safety in improving sleep quality.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of hot water footbath therapy on sleep quality and identify contributing factors to insomnia among elderly residents of selected old age homes in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.

Methods: A quasi-experimental study with a pre-test–post-test control group design was conducted among 60 elderly individuals aged 60 years and above. Participants were selected through purposive sampling and divided into experimental (n = 30) and control (n = 30) groups. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was used to assess sleep quality. The intervention group received a 20-minute hot water footbath each night for seven days, while the control group received no intervention. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.

Results: Post-intervention analysis revealed a statistically significant improvement in sleep quality in the experimental group (p < 0.05). The most affected PSQI components included sleep latency, duration, and overall quality. Demographic variables such as age, gender, and length of stay in the old age home were found to have a significant association with baseline sleep quality.

Conclusion: Hot water footbath therapy is an effective, low-cost intervention to improve sleep quality among the elderly. It may be considered a viable non-pharmacological alternative for sleep enhancement in geriatric care settings.