Effect of Reflexology on Decreasing Postoperative Pain and Anxiety After Total Abdominal Hysterectomy

Abstract

Surgical patients experience both postoperative pain and anxiety, as they try to cope with pain. Despite technological advances, pharmacological methods are inadequate for decreasing postoperative pain and anxiety. Reflexology has been implemented and considered effective in these areas in many countries. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of reflexology on decreasing postoperative pain and anxiety after a hysterectomy. The study was an intervention randomized study. The population of the investigation is all patients who had a hysterectomy between February 2012 and December 2014 in the Istanbul University Obstetrics and Gynecology service. The sample was 100 women chosen after a power analysis (minimum: 74) (experimental: 54, control: 46) within the population of the investigation who agreed to participate in the study. Using a table of random numbers, patients in the sample were divided into groups. Data was collected using the patient information and vital signs form, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-I), Visual Analog Scale (VAS) Pain and Anxiety Scales, and BRIEF pain inventory. All women in the groups had similar sociodemographic, obstetric, and pain characteristics, past experience of illness, and characteristics related to their hysterectomy. All of the patients in the reflexology group stated that reflexology helped them feel better. The reflexology group compared with the control group had lower than the average VAS pain and VAS and STAI anxiety at all assessment times. Reflexology is effective in reducing anxiety and pain.

Reflexology Use in Obstetrics and Gynecology Nursing Postgraduate Thesis in Türkiye: Literature Review

“…[7][8][9] Literatürde doğum ve kadın hastalıkları alanında refleksolojinin abdominal histerektomi ameliyat sonrası dönemde, primiparlarda doğum ağrısı yönetiminde, premenstrüel sendromda, doğum sonrası dönemde ağrı, uyku kalitesi, emzirme gibi çeşitli parametreler üzerinde etkileri incelenmiştir. 8,[10][11][12][13] İlgili çalışmalara göre doğum ve kadın hastalıkları alanında refleksolojinin premenstrüel semptomları hafiflettiği, primipar kadınlarda sezaryen öncesi kaygıyı hafiflettiği, doğumun dördüncü evresinde ve doğum sonrası dönemde ağrıyı azalttığı ve menopoz sonrası dönemde kadınlarda depresyonu azaltmada olumlu etkileri olduğu bulunmuştur. [14][15][16][17] Basit, güvenilir ve etkili bir uygulama olan refleksoloji nonfarmakolojik hemşirelik girişimleri arasında popülarite kazanmaya devam etmektedir.…”