The Effects of Reflexology on Fatigue Severity of Patients with Cancer

Authors: Nourmohammadi Hassan, Motaghi Minoo, Borji Milad, Tarjoman Asma, Soltany BehrouzJournal: Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCPPublished: February 26, 2019

Moderate EvidenceRandomized Controlled Trialn=57 participants

Cancer Pain Management

In Plain Language: reflexology for cancer pain, explained

Introduction: Breast cancer is a major threat to women’s health and a common factor that can reduce their life expectancy. Complementary medicine such as reflexology is known to reduce fatigue severity in cancer patients. The present study aimed to cultivate the effect of reflexology on fatigue severity of patients with breast cancer. Methods: The present pre-post clinical trial recruited 57 patients with breast cancer and involved an experimental and a control group. All patients were livening in Ilam, Iran. Patients were randomly assigned to two groups of experimental (N=27) and control (N=30). The experimental group received reflexology for 4 sessions. Data were collected using Fatigue severity scale (FSS) and demographic information questionnaire. FSS was completed by the patients twice; before the intervention and 2 months after the intervention. Data were analyzed using SPSS and running t-test and ANOVA. Results: Results showed no significant difference in fatigue severity between experimental (45.44±5.30) and control (43.66±7.68) groups prior to the intervention (p>0.05). However, after conducting the intervention, a significant difference in fatigue severity was seen between the experimental (20.66±4.54) and control (40.36±9.58) groups (p=0.000). Conclusion: The present study showed that reflexology decrease fatigue severity in patients with breast cancer and community health nursing can to use of these complementary medicine to increase patients health conditions.

Key Findings: what this randomised trial found about cancer pain

✓The study examined reflexology as a complementary medicine intervention in 57 breast cancer patients divided into experimental (N=27) and control (N=30) groups.
✓The experimental group received 4 sessions of reflexology treatment with fatigue severity measured using the Fatigue Severity Scale before intervention and 2 months after.
✓Results showed no significant difference in fatigue severity between the reflexology intervention group and the control group.

What This Means for You

This study suggests reflexology may help reduce cancer-related fatigue, though the evidence is based on a relatively small study and would benefit from larger trials before drawing firm conclusions.

What This Means for Practitioners

This moderate-quality trial provides support for reflexology as a complementary approach to managing fatigue in breast cancer patients, suitable for integrating into holistic cancer care protocols.

Study Design: how this randomised trial was run

Sample Size

57 participants

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Reflexology for cancer pain: common questions

Does reflexology help with cancer pain?

This study suggests reflexology may help reduce cancer-related fatigue, though the evidence is based on a relatively small study and would benefit from larger trials before drawing firm conclusions.

What did this study find?

The study examined reflexology as a complementary medicine intervention in 57 breast cancer patients divided into experimental (N=27) and control (N=30) groups. The experimental group received 4 sessions of reflexology treatment with fatigue severity measured using the Fatigue Severity Scale before intervention and 2 months after. Results showed no significant difference in fatigue severity between the reflexology intervention group and the control group.

How strong is this evidence?

This is a randomised trial and we rate its evidence moderate. It covers 57 participants. It was published in Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP. Reflexology is a complementary therapy, not a replacement for medical treatment.