The Effect of Reflexology Applied to Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease on Dyspnea and Fatigue
Moderate EvidenceIn Plain Language: reflexology, explained
The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of reflexology on reducing dyspnea and fatigue in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The study was conducted as a pretest-posttest experimental design. The population of the study consisted of 60 patients (30 in experimental group and 30 in control group). Patient Description Form, Baseline Dyspnea Index (BDI) and Visual Analogue Scale-Fatigue (VAS-F) were used to collect the data. The difference between pretest-posttest dyspnea and fatigue mean scores of patients in the experimental group was statistically significant (p .05). It was determined that the reflexology reduced dyspnea and fatigue in patients with COPD. Complementary methods such as reflexology should be used with pharmacological methods to reduce dyspnea and fatigue of COPD patients.
Key Findings: what this observational study found
- ✓Reflexology significantly reduced dyspnea symptoms in COPD patients compared to control group (p < 0.05).
- ✓Reflexology significantly reduced fatigue in COPD patients compared to control group (p < 0.05).
- ✓Reflexology should be integrated with pharmacological treatments as a complementary method to manage dyspnea and fatigue in COPD patients.
What This Means for You
This study shows reflexology may help reduce breathing difficulty and fatigue in COPD patients, though it works best alongside standard medical treatment.
What This Means for Practitioners
Reflexology demonstrates measurable benefits for COPD symptoms and can be positioned as a complementary therapy to support patients' pharmacological treatment plans.
Study Design: how this observational study was run
Common questions about this study
What does this study mean in practice?
This study shows reflexology may help reduce breathing difficulty and fatigue in COPD patients, though it works best alongside standard medical treatment.
What did this study find?
Reflexology significantly reduced dyspnea symptoms in COPD patients compared to control group (p < 0.05). Reflexology significantly reduced fatigue in COPD patients compared to control group (p < 0.05). Reflexology should be integrated with pharmacological treatments as a complementary method to manage dyspnea and fatigue in COPD patients.
How strong is this evidence?
This is a observational study and we rate its evidence moderate. It covers 60 participants. It was published in Rehabilitation nursing : the official journal of the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses. Reflexology is a complementary therapy, not a replacement for medical treatment.
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