• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.105-114
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• 2007

Purpose: This study examined the effects of foot-reflexology massage on body weight, lower extremity edema, and serum lipids in postpartum women. Method: This study was a nonequivalent control-group pretest-posttest design. Postpartum women were assigned to the experimental group (n=16) or a control group (n=15). Foot reflexology massage was applied 5 times a week, for a total of 2 weeks to the experimental group. The tool for measuring lower extremity edema was the girth of the thigh, and the calf. The measuring tool for serum lipids was total cholesterol and TG in blood serum by clinical process. Data was analyzed by $x^2$-test, t-test, and paired t-test, ANOVA using SPSS/Win PC 14.0. Results: There was a statistically significant decrease in levels of TG in blood serum in the experimental group compared to the control group. Conclusion: Foot reflexology massage is a useful nursing intervention that decreases serum lipids level in postpartum women. Therefore foot reflexology massage is recommended as a nursing intervention strategy for serum lipids reduction in postpartum women.

• Journal of East-West Nursing Research
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.7-14
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• 2004

Purpose: This study was to identify the effects of self-foot reflexology on the situation score of Urinary incontinence, Self esteem and Depression of the middle-aged women. Method: A quasi-experimental design was used. The subject were 39 middle-aged women with urinary incontinence(18 experimental group, 21 control group). In the experimental group, self-foot reflexology was applied for 30 minutes, three times a week for 4 weeks. The obtained data were analyzed by using the Mann-Whitney U test of SPSS. Result: 1. The situation score of urinary incontinence were reduced significantly in the experimental group as compared to the control group(U=81.00, P=.002). 2. Self esteem were improved significantly in the experimental group as compared to the control group(U=59.00, p=.000). 3. Depression in the experimental group was reduced whereas that of the control group was increased significantly(U=45.00, p=.000). Conclusion: These findings indicate that self-foot reflexology is an effective method for reducing urinary incontinence and depression, and improving self esteem of middle-aged women. Therefore self-foot reflexology can be considered as a independent nursing intervention for urinary incontinence.

• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.305-313
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• 2012

Purpose: This study was done to clarify the effects of foot reflexology on peripheral neuropathy, symptom distress, anxiety and depression in cancer patients treated with oxaliplatin. Methods: A quasi-experimental design was employed. Changes in the variables were evaluated to test the effects of foot reflexology. Participants were cancer patients treated with oxaliplatin (experimental group 14 and control group 17). Peripheral neuropathy, symptom distress, anxiety and depression were measured before and after reflexology. Data were collected from October, 2010 to April, 2011. ${\chi}^2$-test, Fisher's exact test, t-test, Wilcoxon signed rank test and the Mann-Whitney U test were used to analyze the data. Results: The experimental group who received foot reflexology experienced less peripheral neuropathy and symptom distress than the control group. There was no difference in anxiety and depression between the experimental and control group. Conclusion: The foot reflexology program adopted in this study was found to be an effective method to reduce peripheral neuropathy and symptom distress. We recommend foot reflexology for patients with chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.504-512
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• 2008

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of self foot reflexology on depression, sleep, and low back pain in elderly women. Method: The study was one group pre-posttest design. Data collection was done from December 2007 to January 2008 in D city. The participants were 47 women (65 years of age and over). After two weeks of reflexology education, the women did foot reflexology themselves for approximately 40 minutes, five times a week for four weeks. To verify the effects of foot reflexology, the scores for depression, sleep, and LBP were measured at baseline, after 4 weeks of self-treatment. Repeated measure ANOVA with the SPSS WIN 14.0 program were used to analyze the data. Results: There were significant differences in depression, sleep, and LBP between baseline, after 4 weeks of self-treatment. Conclusion: These findings suggest that self foot reflexology could be utilized as an effective nursing intervention for improving depression, sleep, and LBP in elderly women.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.11 no.9
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• pp.385-393
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was performed to analyze the trend of foot reflexology and effectiveness. This study analyzed 118 articles published over 20 years on the effect of intervention therapy. Year of presentation, type of research, characteristics, results of intervention variables, and so on of preceding papers on foot reflexology were analyzed. Collected data were analyzed using SPSS/PC Ver. 26.0 statistical program. Results of this study confirmed that foot reflexology therapy was effective in psychological state, physical state, body systems, vital signs, lipids, and blood. Results of this study could be used as basic data for the development of interventional methods of foot reflexology for human health.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.179-188
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• 2006

Purpose: This study was aimed to identify the effects of a self-foot reflexology massage on depression, stress responses and functions of the immune system of middle-aged women, Method: This study was a one group pretest-postlest experimental design and the data was collected from August $1^{st}$ 2004 to May $31^{st}$ 2005. The subjects consisted of 46 middle-aged women (40 - 64 years) who were recruited from the Community Health Center in Busan city. Subjects were not treated for 4 weeks, subsequently they were trained in self foot reflexology massage for 2 weeks, and then they did their own daily for 6weeks (2 days at the research center, 5 days at home).The outcome variables were measured 4 times, at baseline, pre training, after training, and after the intervention. The collected data was analyzed using repeated measure ANOVA by the SPSS/WIN program. Result: There was a statistically significant difference in depression, perceived stress, systolic blood pressure, natural-killer cells and Ig G. However, there was not a statistically significant difference in dyastolic blood pressure, pulse or serum cortisol. Conclusion: These results suggest that a self-foot reflexology massage could be utilized as an effective nursing intervention to reduce depression and stress responses, and to strengthen immune systems in middle-aged women.

• Journal of Korean Traditional Oncology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.49-59
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• 2021

Objective: Insomnia is a very common symptom of cancer and has a substantial effect on the patients' quality of life. This study aimed to identify the effects of foot reflexology on insomnia in cancer patients. Methods: The study employed a before-after test design on a single group of 13 cancer patients with insomnia, selected by convenience sampling in Daegu. The foot reflexology treatment comprised 30-min sessions twice a week over four weeks. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) were measured at the baseline, at 2 and 4 weeks, and after 4 weeks post treatment completion. Brief Fatigue Inventory-Korean (BFI-K), Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G), and Heart Rate Variability (HRV) were measured at baseline, post-treatment, and 4 weeks after completing treatments. Results: Thirteen patients (mean age 44.77 ± 6.70 years), with thyroid, breast or cervical cancer, were included in the study. Post-treatment, PSQI (from 12.33 ± 3.17 to 8.54 ± 3.43, p<0.001), ISI (from 20.33 ± 3.88 to 13.38 ± 4.23, p<0.001), FACT-G (from 49.6 ± 13.27 to 61.35 ± 14.45, p<0.001), and BFI (from 6.46 ± 0.91 to 5.00 ± 2.02, p<0.001) scores improved significantly over those at the baseline. Conclusion: Foot reflexology can be a good alternative treatment to improve insomnia, fatigue, and quality of life in cancer patients

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.277-286
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• 2003

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to probe the effect of foot reflexology education program on nursing students with constipation, anxiety and depression. This study was a quasi-experimental study of pre-test and posttest design on non-equivalent control group. Method: The data of this study were collected from October 28, to December 14, 2002. The subjects consisted of 61 nursing students (experimental group: 31, control group: 30) with constipation, anxiety and depression. 31 out of them were devided into the experimental group and received foot reflexology education program that was authorized by the World Foot Reflexology Association and made to suit for the subjects by the author for 6weeks composed of 2 weeks theory and of 4 weeks practical skill on the program. The effect of the program was measured by Bowel Function Assessment Form for constipation, State Anxiety Inventory, and Beck Depression Inventory. Data were analyzed by t-test, $x^2$-test, Repeated measures ANOVA, Bonferroni multiple comparison using SAS/PC 8.12 program. Result: After all session of treatment, the score of bowel function assessment were significantly decreased in the experimental group compared to the control group. Outcomes of 6 and 7 weeks were significantly different from those of pre-experiment. After all session of treatment, anxiety states were significantly decreased in the experimental group compared to the control group. Outcomes of 7 weeks were significantly different from those of pre-experiment. After all session of treatment, depression states were significantly decreased in the experimental group compared to the control group. Outcomes of 6 and 7 weeks were significantly different from those of pre- experiment. Conclusion: The results are suggested that the foot reflexology education program might improve the bowel function, anxiety and depression for the nursing students with constipation, anxiety and depression.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.482-492
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• 2004

Purpose: This study was to identify the effects of self-foot reflexology on urinary incontinence symptoms, vaginal contraction and daily life discomfort of middle-aged women. Method: A quasi-experimental design was used. The subject were 39 middle-aged women with urinary incontinence, who were composed of 18 women in the experimental group, while 21 were in the control group. In the experimental group, self-foot reflexology was applied for 30 minutes, three times a week for 4 weeks. The obtained data were analyzed by using the Mann-Whitney U test of SPSS. Result: 1. Frequency(U=78.00, P=.001), amount(U=65.00, p=.001) and the situation score(U=81.00, P=.002)of urinary incontinence were reduced significantly in the experimental group as compared to the control group. 2. Maximum pressure(U=33.50, p=.000), mean pressure(U=38.00 p=.000) of vaginal contraction were improved significantly in the experimental group as compared to the control group. 3. Daily life discomfort in the experimental group was reduced whereas that of the control group was increased(U=63.00, p=.000) significantly. Conclusion: These findings indicate that self-foot reflexology is an effective method for reducing urinary incontinence symptoms and daily life discomfort and for increasing pressure of vaginal contraction of middle-aged women. Therefore self-foot reflexology can be considered as a independent nursing intervention for urinary incontinence.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.110-118
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of self-foot reflexology on stress (perceived stress, urine cortisol level, and serum cortisol level), fatigue, skin temperature and immune response in female undergraduate students. Methods: The research design was a nonequivalent control group pretest-post test design. Participants were 60 university students: 30 in the experiment group and 30 in the control group. The period of this study was from April to June 2010. The program was performed for 1 hr a session, three times a week for 6 weeks. The data were analyzed using the SPSS/WIN 17.0 program. Results: The results showed that self-foot reflexology was effective in reducing perceived stress and fatigue, and raised skin temperature in female undergraduate students. But cortisol levels and immune response were not statistically significant different. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that self-foot reflexology is an effective nursing intervention in reducing perceived stress and fatigue and, in improving skin temperature. Therefore, it is recommended that this be used in clinical practice as an effective nursing intervention for in female undergraduate students.