Effect of Using Warm Shower and Warm Water Footbath with  and Without Adding Epsom Salt on Fatigue Level in Systemic Lupus Patients

Authors

Fatigue, warm water footbath, Epsom salt and Systemic Lupus.

Systemic lupus erythematosus is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease characterized by fatigue, with

meaningful effects on patients’ life. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of using warm shower

and warm water footbath with and without adding Epsom Salt on fatigue level in systemic lupus patients. The

study was conducted at Kasr Al Ainy teaching hospital, Cairo University. Ninety consecutive patients (30

in each experimental group). Quasi- experimental design was used. Data was collected using demographic

sheet, Fatigue severity scale and thermometer. The study results revealed that in the warm shower group,

there was a significant reduction in fatigue level from baseline assessment to day 7 by 2.9 points (54.13±

5.21 and 51.23 ± 5.36). Warm shower is effective in reducing fatigue level. Further investigation into using

warm water footbath with adding Epsom salt and its effect on fatigue, may lead to an improvement in the

complementary therapy and management modality of this chronic inflammatory disease.

Salwa Hagag Abdelaziz1 , Ola Ibrahim Abdo Elmetwaly1, Lobna A. Maged2

1PhD, Assistant Professor of Medical Surgical Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Cairo University, Egypt, 1 DNS, Lecturer of Medical Surgical Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Cairo University, Egypt, 2 MD,Lecturer of

Rheumatology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt