Foot Massage for Improving Sleep Quality in Hemodialysis Patients: A Case Study
##plugins.themes.bootstrap3.article.main##
Laela Nur Nabilah
Henni Kusuma
Wahyu Hidayati
Le-Trinh Lam
Abstract
Sleep disorders are a common and significant issue among haemodialysis (HD) patients,
often leading to a decline in their quality of life. Foot massage is one of the
nonpharmacological therapies that could be effective in managing sleep disorders
among patients with hemodialysis. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of
foot massage in improving sleep quality in HD patients. A case study was conducted
involving three HD patients with poor sleep quality at the Haemodialysis Unit of Dr.
Kariadi General Hospital, Semarang, in May 2025. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index
(PSQI) was used to assess sleep quality before and after the intervention. Foot massage
was performed for 10 minutes during dialysis sessions, twice weekly for four
consecutive weeks. The results showed decreased PSQI scores after the intervention in
three patients, indicating improved sleep quality. These findings suggest that foot
massage positively affects sleep quality in haemodialysis patients and can be considered
a beneficial nonpharmacological intervention in nursing practice.
Downloads
##plugins.themes.bootstrap3.article.details##
Copyright (c) 2026 Laela Nur Nabilah, Henni Kusuma, Wahyu Hidayati, Le-Trinh Lam
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
References
Agung, F. Y., Aprina, A., & Astuti, T. (2021). Effectiveness of foot massage on sleep quality among post-surgical patients in Dr. H Abdul Moeloek Hospital, Lampung-Indonesia. Malahayati International Journal of Nursing and Health Science, 3(2), 94–102. https://doi.org/10.33024/minh.v3i2.3465
Calice-Silva, V., Neyra, J. A., Ferreiro Fuentes, A., Singer Wallbach Massai, K. K., Arruebo, S., Bello, A. K., Caskey, F. J., Damster, S., Donner, J. A., Jha, V., Johnson, D. W., Levin, A., Malik, C., Nangaku, M., Okpechi, I. G., Tonelli, M., Ye, F., Madero, M., Tzanno Martins, C., … Zaidi, D. (2024). Capacity for the management of kidney failure in the International Society of Nephrology Latin America region: report from the 2023 ISN Global Kidney Health Atlas (ISN-GKHA). Kidney International Supplements, 13(1), 43–56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.kisu.2024.01.001
Chao, M. T., Wade, C., & Kronenberg, F. (2015). Disclosure of complementary and alternative medicine to conventional medical providers: Variation by race/ethnicity and type of CAM. Journal of the National Medical Association, 97(12), 1571–1579. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/S0027-9684(15)31296-8
Ghanbari, A., Shahrbabaki, P. M., Dehghan, M., Mardanparvar, H., Abadi, E. K. D., Emami, A., & Sarikhani-Khorrami, E. (2022). Comparison of the Effect of Reflexology and Swedish Massage on Restless Legs Syndrome and Sleep Quality in Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis: a Randomized Clinical Trial. International Journal of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork: Research, Education, and Practice, 15(2), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.3822/ijtmb.v15i2.705
Hamzi, M. A., Hassani, K., Asseraji, M., & Kabbaj, D. El. (2017). of Kidney Diseases and Transplantation Renal Data from the Arab World Insomnia in Hemodialysis Patients : A Multicenter Study from Morocco. 28(5), 1112–1118.
Kovesdy, C. P. (2022). Epidemiology of chronic kidney disease: an update 2022. Kidney International Supplements, 12(1), 7–11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.kisu.2021.11.003
Kusuma, H., Ropyanto, C. B., Widyaningsih, S., & Sujianto, U. (2018). Relating Factors of Insomnia among Haemodialysis Patients. 1, 44–57.
Nafsiyah, Z., Susanto, G., & Wardoyo, E. (2025). Faktor-faktor yang mempengaruhi kualitas tidur pasien gagal ginjal kronik yang menjalani hemodialisis di RSUD Jendral Ahmad Yani Metro Provinsi Lampung. 3(4), 233–240.
Permana, I., & Mesya. (2022). Complementary Therapy In Improving The Sleep Quality Of Hemodialysis Patients: A Scoping Review. 275–287.
Riset Kesehatan Dasar (Riskesdas). (2018). Laporan riskesdas 2018 nasional. In Lembaga Penerbit Balitbangkes (p. hal 156). https://repository.badankebijakan.kemkes.go.id/id/eprint/3514/1/Laporan Riskesdas 2018 Nasional.pdf
Robby, A., Agustin, T., & Hanifan Azka, H. (2022). Pengaruh Pijat Kaki (Foot Massage) Terhadap Kualitas Tidur. Healthcare Nursing Journal, 4(1), 206–213. https://doi.org/10.35568/healthcare.v4i1.1845
Siburian, C. H., & Silaban, N. Y. (2023). The Effect of Foot Massage with Oil Aromatherapy on Hemodialysis Patients’ Sleep Quality. Jurnal Aisyah : Jurnal Ilmu Kesehatan, 8(1), 33–38. https://doi.org/10.30604/jika.v8i1.1398
Simanjuntak, M., Anand, F., & Yulistir, B. (2024). Pengaruh Pijat Refleksi Kaki Terhadap Penurunan Tekanan Darah Pasien Gagal Ginjal Kronik Yang Mengalami Hipertensi Intradialisis Di Siloam Hospitals Asri. 4.
Sinay, J. M., & Lilipory, M. (2019). Kecemasan dan Kualitas Tidur Berhubungan Dengan Lama Menjalani Hemodialisa Pada Pasien Gagal Ginjal Kronik. Moluccas Health Journal, 1(1), 10–18. https://doi.org/10.54639/mhj.v1i1.45
Tan, L., Chen, P., Chiang, H., King, E., Yeh, H., Hsiao, Y., Chang, D. R., Chen, S., Wu, M., & Kuo, C. (2022). Insomnia and Poor Sleep in CKD: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Kidney Medicine, 4(5), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xkme.2022.100458
Tuck, I., Alleyne, R., & Thinguri, R. (2022). Foot massage as a nonpharmacological intervention to improve sleep: A review of current evidence. Holistic Nursing Practice, 36(2), 98–104. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1097/HNP.0000000000000444
Varvogli, L., & Darviri, C. (2011). Stress management techniques: Evidence-based procedures that reduce stress and promote health. Health Science Journal, 5(2), 74–89.
Youniss, Ahmed El-ghiety, A., Saad, Shaker Soliman, M., & Mohammed, Ali Hassan, A. (2021). Effect of Foot Massage on Incisional Pain and Sleep Pattern among Post Abdominal Surgery Patients. Egyptian Journal of Health Care, 124, 570–584.
Yuliana, S., Pramitasari, R. D., & Nugroho, A. (2020). Tingkat stres kerja dan kualitas tidur pada pasien penyakit kronis. Jurnal Kesehatan Masyarakat, 15(3), 177–184.
Yunita, R., Mahmudah, F., & Lestari, P. (2021). Restless leg syndrome sebagai prediktor gangguan tidur pada pasien gagal ginjal kronik. Jurnal Ilmu Keperawatan, 9(1), 1–7.