The effectiveness of the combination of clapping and common cold massage therapy on breathing frequency and number of staphylococcus bacteria in toddlers with upper respiratory tract infections (ARI)

Abstract

Introduction: The common cold is an emergency that often occurs in children due to shortness of breath and even death, so attempts are needed to massage the baby so that respiratory failure does not happen. Not only massage but a combination with percussion (clapping) as a physical chest therapy (CPT) helps effectively against breathing difficulties and respiratory infections in toddlers. Thus, this research is aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of clapping and common cold massage combination therapy on breathing frequency and the number of staphylococcus bacteria in toddlers with upper respiratory tract infections (ARI) Methods: This quantitative research used a quasi-easy experiment with a pre-test and a post-test with a control group. The population in this study was PKM Sidoarjo, Indonesia. The sample size was 42 people. Sampling was done by consecutive selection. This study was divided into the intervention group, which received massage and clapping therapy, and the control group only received massage therapy. Data analysis was performed using the Wilcoxon Sign Rank statistical test in the SPSS 25. Results: According to the age category, most respondents in both groups were one (K1: 45.5%; K2: 54.0%). We reported a respiratory rate decrease in the sample after the massage therapy. The reduction in the respiratory rate was 2.50 times, and decrease in Staphylococcus bacteria in the sample after getting the massage therapy. The amount of decrease in Staphylococcus bacteria rate was 3.50 times. A significant difference in the increase in the respiratory rate was established in the group that had a massage and clapping therapy (p=0.000), and the amount of Staphylococcus bacteria was found in the group that had a massage and clapping treatment (p=0.000).  The amount of decrease in Staphylococcus bacteria was 10.50 times. Conclusion: The combination of clapping therapy and cold massage therapy will affect the respiratory frequency and the number of Staphylococcus bacteria. So, it is necessary to motivate parents, especially mothers, to do one of the usual cold massage therapy movements.