Effects of Reflexology on Postpartum Pain, Fatigue, Sleep Quality and Lactation

University of Gaziantep

Status: Completed

Conditions: Breast Feeding; Pain, Postoperative; Fatigue; Sleep

Treatments: Other: foot reflexology

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04924439

reflexology and cesarean

Details and patient eligibility

About

The aim of this research is to determine the effect of foot reflexology applied to primiparous women who had cesarean section in the postpartum period on pain, fatigue, sleep quality and lactation. This research is a randomized controlled trial. The study was conducted in Şanlıurfa, which has the highest fertility rate in Turkey.

Full description

The aim of this research is to determine the effect of foot reflexology applied to primiparous women who had cesarean section in the postpartum period on pain, fatigue, sleep quality and lactation. This research is a randomized controlled trial. The study was conducted in Şanlıurfa, which has the highest fertility rate in Turkey. The sample of the research consisted of 80 primiparous women (reflexology group: 40 and control group: 40). The data were collected between 01 January 2020 - 31 January 2021. "Introductory Information Form", "Visual Analogue Scale" for Pain, "Visual Analog Scale for Fatigue", "Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index" and "Bristol Breastfeeding Assessment Tool" were used as data collection tools. Foot reflexology was applied to the experimental group for 40 minutes (left foot 20 minutes and right foot 20 minutes) once a week for postpartum 8 weeks. The control group was only watched. In the intergroup comparison of the experimental and control groups, chi-square for categorical variables and independent groups t-test for numerical variables were used. Two-way repeated measures ANOVA test was performed in terms of time and group interaction in repeated measurements

Enrollment: 80 patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 19 to 35 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Caesarean section,
• Primipary,
• 19 and over and under 35
• Literate,
• 37 and above pregnancy week
• Giving birth singularly,
• Having spinal anesthesia
• No chronic disease or pregnancy complication,
• Have no breast-related health problems
• Have not had an operation related to the breast,
• Women who do not have any health problems in the feet of the mothers in the treatment group

Exclusion criteria

• The baby has died or is not present,
• Multiparous,
• Women with health problems in their feet

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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80 participants in 2 patient groups

experimental group (foot reflexology group)

Experimental group

Description:

Primiparas appropriate for the criteria, admitted to the clinic due to CS and accepting to participate in the study were randomly placed into groups. Reflexology was performed in the intervention group mothers, and the questionnaires and scales were self-reportingly filled in by the lead researcher (SC). Different rooms were allocated for the participants in the intervention and control groups not to affect each other. Foot reflexology was applied to the experimental group for 40 minutes once a week for postpartum 8 weeks.

Treatment:

Other: foot reflexology

control group

No Intervention group

Description:

Primiparas appropriate for the criteria, admitted to the clinic due to CS and accepting to participate in the study were randomly placed into groups. Reflexology was performed in the intervention group mothers, and the questionnaires and scales were self-reportingly filled in by the lead researcher (SC). Different rooms were allocated for the participants in the intervention and control groups not to affect each other.