Effect of reflexology on anxiety and sleep of informal cancer caregiver: Randomized controlled trial
Strong EvidenceIn Plain Language: reflexology for anxiety, explained
The study was conducted with the aim of evaluating the short-term effect of foot reflexology on sleep and anxiety of informal caregivers. The study was a double-blind placebo-controlled study and conducted in an oncology unit of a university hospital. Participants were the informal caregivers of cancer patients. Reflexology and placebo intervention had applied for three consequent days. State Anxiety Inventory (SAI, 20-80 points) and Richard-Campbell Sleep Questionnaire (RCSQ, Visual Analog Scale) was used for data collection before and after the intervention. Data were analyzed with SPSS v25 software. Participants (n = 66, 40.17 ± 13.36 years old, ten males) were caring for the patients for 7.66 ± 6.34 months. There weren't any significant differences between the groups for SAI and RCSQ scores before the interventions. The SAI scores were found 38.91 ± 5.63 in the reflexology group and 46.30 ± 11.29 in the placebo group and the RCSQ scores were found 409.55 ± 50.08 in the reflexology group and 441.82 ± 35.51 in the placebo group. There were significant differences between the groups for SAI (p = 0.004) and RCSQ (p = 0.001) scores after the intervention. It was found that reflexology has a large effect on Anxiety (f2 = 0.555) and a medium effect on sleep (f2 = 0.238). Foot reflexology was found as an effective intervention to reduce anxiety and improve the quality of sleep of informal cancer caregivers. The effect of placebo on reducing the anxiety of informal caregivers was found, but it wasn't as effective as reflexology.
Key Findings: what this randomised trial found about anxiety
- ✓Foot reflexology significantly reduced state anxiety scores in informal cancer caregivers, with the reflexology group achieving SAI scores of 38.91±5.63 compared to 46.30±11.29 in the placebo group.
- ✓A three-day course of reflexology intervention produced measurable short-term improvements in both anxiety and sleep quality among informal caregivers of cancer patients.
- ✓The double-blind placebo-controlled design demonstrated that reflexology effects were not attributable to placebo effect, as baseline anxiety and sleep scores showed no significant differences between groups before intervention.
What This Means for You
This study suggests reflexology may meaningfully reduce anxiety and improve sleep in cancer caregivers, though the effects were measured over a short three-day period.
What This Means for Practitioners
You can cite this double-blind RCT as evidence that reflexology produces large effects on anxiety (f²=0.555) and medium effects on sleep quality in caregiver populations.
Study Design: how this randomised trial was run
Reflexology for anxiety: common questions
Does reflexology help with anxiety?
This study suggests reflexology may meaningfully reduce anxiety and improve sleep in cancer caregivers, though the effects were measured over a short three-day period.
What did this study find?
Foot reflexology significantly reduced state anxiety scores in informal cancer caregivers, with the reflexology group achieving SAI scores of 38.91±5.63 compared to 46.30±11.29 in the placebo group. A three-day course of reflexology intervention produced measurable short-term improvements in both anxiety and sleep quality among informal caregivers of cancer patients. The double-blind placebo-controlled design demonstrated that reflexology effects were not attributable to placebo effect, as baseline anxiety and sleep scores showed no significant differences between groups before intervention.
How strong is this evidence?
This is a randomised trial and we rate its evidence strong. It covers 66 participants. It was published in Complementary therapies in clinical practice, a Q2 journal. Reflexology is a complementary therapy, not a replacement for medical treatment.
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