Learning Objective 1: The learner will be able to understand the benefit of heating on non-affected side.
Learning Objective 2: The learner will be able to know the method of measuring blood flow for hand.
Methods: This study was designed using the nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design. Thirty-nine patients were assigned either to the experimental group (20 patients) or control group (19 patients). Data were analyzed with x2-test, Fisher's exact test, t-test, and repeated measure ANOVA using SPSS/WIN 17.0 program.
Results: After treatment in this program, blood flow velocity (F=5.13, p=.008) and wound healing (F=4.11, p=.020) improved significantly in the experimental group compared to the control group. But there was no significant improvement in pain in the experimental group compared to the control group (F=2.40, p=.097).
Conclusion: Based upon these results the non-affected side hand heating was recommended as an independent nursing intervention for the patients who need improvement in blood flow velocity and wound healing such as patients who have microsurgery. As the heating was effective even when applied on the non-affected side, it is the applicable to patients who cannot tolerate any therapy on affected side.
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