Abstract
This study reviewed Japanese and foreign studies up to February 2019 on the use of hand baths, investigated the study designs and hand bath methods used, and described the physical and psychological effects of hand baths. In total, 12 studies identified from literature searches in PubMed, CINAHL Plus with Full Text, Cochrane Library, CiNii, and Ichushi-Web were included in this analysis. Among these 12 studies, 3 were RCTs, 4 were non-RCTs, and 5 were before-after studies. In most studies, hand baths were taken for 10 min at a water temperature of 39℃-42℃ with the hands immersed to the level of the radial styloid process. Moreover, the skin temperature-elevation effect of the hand baths was pervasive, and skin temperature increased in some areas that were not immersed. This suggests that hand baths have the effect of warming the body. The immersed areas of the hands must be covered to prevent a skin temperature drop and maintain the increased skin temperature achieved following the hand baths. Further, receiving a hand massage during hand baths seemed to increase the perceived warmth.
