Caregiver-Delivered Foot Reflexology: Effects on Patients and Caregivers

Authors: Samancioglu Baglama Sevgin, Bakir ErcanJournal: Holistic nursing practicePublished: January 1, 2019DOI: 10.1097/HNP.0000000000000351

Q2 JournalSJR: 0.45h-index: 47

Strong EvidenceRandomized Controlled Trialn=120 participants

Cancer Pain Management Anxiety

In Plain Language: reflexology for cancer pain, explained

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of caregiver-delivered foot reflexology on patients with cancer and their caregivers. A 2-group pre- and posttest design was used in this study, and the study was conducted in an oncology hospital between January 2016 and February 2018. The study included 60 patients and 60 caregivers. Caregivers performed interventions once a day for 15 days. Patients in the experimental group received reflexology, and patients in the control group were included in the reading session. Mean pain, anxiety, and fatigue levels significantly decreased for the patients who received foot reflexology from their caregivers for 15 days compared with patients in the control group. The mean care burden score of the caregivers in both groups decreased. Clinicians should teach caregiving practices such as foot reflexology and know that these practices are a positive influence on both patients and caregivers.

Key Findings: what this randomised trial found about cancer pain

✓Patients with cancer who received caregiver-delivered foot reflexology for 15 days experienced significantly decreased pain, anxiety, and fatigue levels compared to control group patients.
✓Caregivers who performed foot reflexology on their patients showed decreased care burden scores, indicating that the intervention benefited both patients and caregivers.
✓Foot reflexology is an effective caregiving practice that clinicians should teach to improve outcomes for both cancer patients and their caregivers.

What This Means for You

If you have cancer and a willing caregiver, foot reflexology delivered daily for two weeks may meaningfully reduce your pain, anxiety, and fatigue based on this moderate-quality study.

What This Means for Practitioners

Teaching caregivers to deliver reflexology can be a valuable clinical tool that benefits both patients (through reduced pain, anxiety, and fatigue) and caregivers (through reduced care burden).

Study Design: how this randomised trial was run

Sample Size

120 participants

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Reflexology for cancer pain: common questions

Does reflexology help with cancer pain?

If you have cancer and a willing caregiver, foot reflexology delivered daily for two weeks may meaningfully reduce your pain, anxiety, and fatigue based on this moderate-quality study.

What did this study find?

Patients with cancer who received caregiver-delivered foot reflexology for 15 days experienced significantly decreased pain, anxiety, and fatigue levels compared to control group patients. Caregivers who performed foot reflexology on their patients showed decreased care burden scores, indicating that the intervention benefited both patients and caregivers. Foot reflexology is an effective caregiving practice that clinicians should teach to improve outcomes for both cancer patients and their caregivers.

How strong is this evidence?

This is a randomised trial and we rate its evidence strong. It covers 120 participants. It was published in Holistic nursing practice, a Q2 journal. Reflexology is a complementary therapy, not a replacement for medical treatment.