Citation

Chiu HY, Lin EY, Chiu HT, Chen PY. J. Neurosci. Nurs. 2017; 49(6): 380-385.

Affiliation

Questions or comments about this article may be directed to Pin-Yuan Chen, MD PhD, at pinyuanc@gmail.com. He is an Assistant Professor, School of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, and Department of Neurosurgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung, Taiwan. Hsiao-Yean Chiu, RN PhD, is Assistant Professor, School of Nursing, College of Nursing, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan. En-Yuan Lin, MD, is Neurosurgeon, Department of Neurosurgery, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. Hsiao-Ting Chiu, PT MSc, is Physical Therapist, Department of Rehabilitation, Sinwu Branch, Taoyuan General Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taoyuan, Taiwan.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, American Association of Neuroscience Nurses)

DOI

10.1097/JNN.0000000000000325

PMID

29117034

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Sleep disturbance is a common complaint after traumatic brain injury (TBI). The aim of this study was to examine the effects of a home-based warm footbath intervention on sleep in patients with TBI.

METHODS: This was a randomized controlled crossover study, and 23 adults with TBI were recruited and randomized to receive first a 30-minute, 41°C warm footbath and then a usual care, or vice versa, with each lasting 3 days and separated by a 3-day washout. Sleep efficiency, sleep onset latency (SOL), total sleep time, and wake after sleep onset (WASO) were assessed by actigraphy.

RESULTS: We found that home-based warm footbath significantly had a reduced SOL (difference, -5.11 minutes) and a suppressed WASO (difference, -2.57 minutes) compared with those of usual care, but not in sleep efficiency and total sleep time. No adverse effect was reported.

CONCLUSIONS: This study suggested that home-based warm footbath is practical and effective in relieving post-TBI sleep disturbances, particular in SOL and WASO. Nurses can use home-based warm footbath as an effective intervention for management of sleep disturbances after TBI.

Language: en