The Effect of Foot Reflexology and Therapeutic Touch on Fatigue, Depression and Quality of Sexual Life in Women

Osmaniye Korkut Ata University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Depression

Treatments: Other: Therapeutic Touch; Other: Reflexology

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06411652

OsmaniyeKAU-SBF-CA-02

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study aims to examine the effects of foot reflexology and therapeutic touch on fatigue, depression and sexual quality of life in women receiving hemodialysis treatment. Hemodialysis treatment may have negative effects on the quality of sexual life and mental health of female patients. In this context, understanding the potential healing effects of foot reflexology and therapeutic touch on sexual health and fatigue and depression in these individuals may contribute to the development of more effective support and treatment strategies.

Full description

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) stands out as a rapidly increasing important health problem globally. CKD is a universal public health priority associated with significantly higher morbidity and mortality and excessive health care costs. The most common form of renal replacement therapy is hemodialysis. In patients with chronic kidney disease treated with hemodialysis, the disappearance of the survival advantage of women over men in the general population deeply affects the life experience of women. Among the additional difficulties that women face in this process compared to men, the inability to maintain their emotional resilience, failure to comply with treatment, and failure to meet their social support needs come to the fore.

The problems caused by hemodialysis and chronic illness create a significant burden on women, both materially and spiritually, and negatively affect women's quality of life. Common and common conditions include sleep disorders, fatigue, depression and pain. In addition, higher levels of sexual dysfunction have been reported in women with hemodialysis, and it has been stated that loss of sexuality may reduce self-confidence and cause problems in marriage. Chronic hemodialysis patients, especially female patients, should be supported in terms of sexual dysfunctions and psychosocial conditions. Therefore, health professionals should evaluate the psychosocial lives of especially female patients and provide the necessary support. Health professionals' use of complementary approaches to reduce patients' problems and improve their negative emotional states increases the effectiveness of medical treatment.

Reflexology and therapeutic touch are among the low-cost and complication-free nursing interventions. These nursing interventions can be used together with medical treatments to reduce stress and balance the body. Studies indicate that reflexology application and therapeutic touch can be effective in improving sexual function and positive emotions. However, when the literature is examined, it is observed that there are no studies evaluating therapeutic touch intervention in women receiving hemodialysis treatment, and reflexology studies are quite inadequate. Therefore, our study aims to examine the effects of foot reflexology and therapeutic touch on fatigue, depression and sexual quality of life in women receiving hemodialysis treatment.

Enrollment: 108 patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 18 to 65 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Being sexually active
• Volunteering to participate in the research

Exclusion criteria

• The patient is 65 years or older or under 18 years of age
• Having a communication problem

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

---

108 participants in 3 patient groups

Reflexology Group

Experimental group

Description:

The researcher has received a practitioner reflexology certificate. The researcher will begin the massage during the second hour of dialysis, as the patient's condition is more stable and the unit is less crowded due to routine care. Before the intervention, the patient's privacy will be protected in the reflexology group; The researcher will sit in a chair at the foot of the patient's bed and perform a reflexology massage.

Treatment:

Other: Reflexology

Therapeutic Touch Group

Experimental group

Description:

In order to perform Therapeutic Touch application, the researcher attended the first level training prepared by the International Therapeutic Touch Association and received a certificate. For therapeutic touch application, the researcher will start the application in the second hour of dialysis, as the patient's condition is more stable and the unit is less crowded due to routine care. Therapeutic touch application will be applied to women in the hemodialysis care unit, twice a week for four weeks, for a total of 8 sessions, each lasting 15 minutes.

Treatment:

Other: Therapeutic Touch

Control group

No Intervention group

Description:

No intervention will be made.