The Effectiveness of Hot Water Footbath Therapy on Sleep Quality Among Senior Residents in Old Age Homes- A Pilot Study

Abstract

Introduction: Insomnia is a common condition among the elderly, often leading to reduced quality of life and increased health risks. Pharmacological treatments may have adverse effects; hence, there is growing interest in non-pharmacological alternatives such as hot water footbath therapy. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of hot water footbath therapy on improving sleep quality among elderly residents in old age homes in Ahmedabad.

Methodology: A quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design was employed with 20 participants aged 60–80 years, randomly divided into experimental and control groups. The experimental group received a nightly hot water footbath for 15–20 minutes over 10 consecutive days, while the control group continued their routine without intervention. Sleep quality was measured using a modified Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and demographic data were collected via a structured questionnaire.

Results: Pre-intervention, 50% of participants in the experimental group reported poor sleep quality. Post-intervention, none reported poor sleep, with improvements seen in both mild and moderate categories. The mean PSQI score in the experimental group significantly decreased from 16.90 to 10.90 (p < 0.001), while the control group showed only a marginal improvement (from 17.00 to 14.90).

Analysis: Paired t-tests confirmed a statistically significant enhancement in sleep quality in the experimental group (t = 14.230, p < 0.000). Chi-square tests found no significant association between sleep quality and most demographic variables, except for sex in the control group. Common sleep disturbances included joint pain, nighttime urination, emotional stress, and environmental factors like noise and light.

Discussion: The findings support hot water footbath therapy as an effective, safe, and affordable method to improve sleep quality in the elderly. The intervention helps alleviate physical discomfort and promotes relaxation, addressing key causes of sleep disturbances. Despite the small sample size and short follow-up, the results are promising and warrant further large-scale studies.