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Research: STEPHENSON and co-workers,
Listed in Issue 152
Abstract
STEPHENSON and co-workers, School of Nursing, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA, stephensonn@mail.ecu.edu, have studied the effects of reflexology administered by a partner on cancer pain and anxiety.
Background
The aim of this study was to compare the effects of partner-delivered foot reflexology and usual care plus attention on patients' perceived pain and anxiety.
Methodology
The experimental pretest/post-test design included patient-partner dyads randomly assigned to an experimental or control group. 42 experimental and 44 control subjects comprised 86 dyads of patients with metastatic cancer and their partners, representing 16 different types of cancer. The subjects had a mean age of 58.3 years. The intervention included a 15- to 30-minute teaching session on foot reflexology to the partner by a certified reflexologist, an optional 15- to 30-minute foot reflexology session for the partner, and a 30-minute, partner-delivered foot reflexology intervention for the patient. The control group received a 30-minute reading session from their partners. Pain and anxiety were the main outcome measures.
Results
Following the initial partner-delivered foot reflexology, patients experienced a significant decrease in pain intensity and anxiety.
Conclusion
A nurse reflexologist taught partners how to perform reflexology on patients with metastatic cancer pain in the hospital, resulting in an immediate decrease in pain intensity and anxiety; minimal changes were seen in the control group, who received usual care plus attention.
References
Stephenson NL, Swanson M, Dalton J, Keefe FJ, Engelke M. Partner-delivered reflexology: effects on cancer pain and anxiety. Oncology Nursing Forum. Online 34 (1): 127-132, Jan 2007.
Comment
This research indicates that reflexology has a significant effect upon pain intensity and anxiety in this case control study.
