Case Study of Nursing Care for Hypertension Patients with Warm Water Foot Soaking in The Internal Medicine Room

Uncontrolled hypertension increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, and kidney disorders. Warm water foot soak therapy can be used as a complementary intervention because local heat exposure has the potential to induce peripheral vasodilation and a relaxation response. This case study aims to describe changes in blood pressure before and after warm water foot soak therapy in hypertensive patients treated in the Internal Medicine Ward of Dr. Abdul Aziz Singkawang Regional Hospital. The study used a descriptive case study design with a nursing care process approach in one patient (Mrs. B) for three days. Data were collected through interviews, observations, physical examinations, documentation, and blood pressure measurements before and after the intervention. Both feet were soaked up to the ankles in water at a temperature of 38-40°C for 20 minutes, once a day for three days; the water temperature and the patient's response were monitored throughout the procedure. Blood pressure on the first day changed from 174/97 to 140/92 mmHg, on the second day from 140/90 to 130/80 mmHg, and on the third day from 179/100 to 130/92 mmHg. Mean blood pressure decreased from 164.3/95.7 mmHg to 133.3/88.0 mmHg, with a mean decrease of 31.0 mmHg in systolic and 7.7 mmHg in diastolic. The findings indicate a decrease in blood pressure immediately after therapy across all sessions, although blood pressure before therapy still fluctuated. Warm foot soak therapy can be considered as a complementary nursing intervention, not a substitute for antihypertensive medication. Its effectiveness needs to be further studied using a larger number of subjects, a control group, and standardized measurements