Short-term Effect of Foot Massage on the Values of Arterial Oxygen Saturation in Neurosurgical Patients Admitted to ICU

Massage is performed in order to adjust the vital signs of patients in the ICU that needs long-term hospitalization. The aim of the study was to determine the short-term impact of foot massage on patient's arterial blood oxygen saturation values that hospitalized at ​​Hospital of Imam Reza (AS) in Kermanshah. The present study is a quasi-experimental study to investigate the short time effect of massage on the feet on arterial oxygen saturation in patients admitted to the neurosurgical intensive care unit. After the pilot study subjects, 78 patients were selected by simple sampling. 39 patients were allocated in the intervention group and 39 patients in the control group. Forms and questionnaires and checklists were used for data collection and methods of data collection were interviews and physiological measurements. The patient's blood oxygen saturation in the first and fifth minutes before the massage was measured in both groups (from the monitor to the patient's bedside). Then, researcher gave 5 min foot massage and blood oxygen saturation values ​​were recorded. Immediately after the massage, arterial oxygen saturation values in the first and fifth minutes in both groups were recorded respectively and the results evaluated. Results showed that the Spo2 in the intervention group was increased after the first and fifth minutes of foot massage (p = 0.023 and p = 0.019). It should be noted that the Spo2 levels in the control group were not significant when compared before and after the massage. Results showed that a significant increase in Spo2 level is a result of foot massage. It may be concluded that changes in metabolism occurred after foot massage is followed by decreased oxygen consumption and thus the value of massage increases.