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Kim and Kim: Effects of Aroma Self-Foot Reflexology Massage on Stress and Immune Responses and Fatigue in Middle-Aged Women in Rural Areas
Original Article
Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing

Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing 2012; 42(5): 709-718.

Published online: 31 October 2012

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2012.42.5.709

Effects of Aroma Self-Foot Reflexology Massage on Stress and Immune Responses and Fatigue in Middle-Aged Women in Rural Areas

Ja Ok Kim1, In Sook Kim2

1Department of Nursing, Seonam University, Namwon, Korea.

2Department of Nursing, Chosun University, Gwangju, Korea.

Address reprint requests to: Kim, In-Sook. Department of Nursing, Chosun University, 375 Seosuk-dong, Dong-gu, Gwangju 501-759, Korea. Tel: +82-62-230-6321, Fax: +82-62-230-6329, isakim@chosun.ac.kr

Received 6 March 2012       Accepted 25 September 2012

© 2012 Korean Society of Nursing Science

Abstract

Purpose

This study was done to examine the effects of aroma self-foot reflexology massage on stress and immune responses and fatigue in middle-aged women in rural areas.

Methods

The study was a nonequivalent control group pre-post test design. The participants were 52 middle-aged women from rural areas of which 26 were assigned to the experimental group and 26 to the control group. Data were collected from July to September, 2011 and analyzed using SPSS Win 17.0 version program. The intervention was conducted 3 times a week for six weeks.

Results

There were significant differences in reported perceived stress, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and fatigue between the two groups. However, the issue of salivary cortisol and immune response were not significant.

Conclusion

Aroma self-foot reflexology massage can be utilized as an effective intervention for perceived stress, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and fatigue in middle-aged woman in rural areas.

Keywords: Massage, Reflexology, Stress, Immune response, Fatigue

Figures and Tables

Table 1
Homogeneity Test of General Characteristics (N=52)
jkan-42-709-i001

Exp.=Experimental group; Cont.=Control group.

*Fisher's exact test.

Table 2
Homogeneity Test of Pretest Dependent Variables (N=52)
jkan-42-709-i002

Exp.=Experimental group; Cont.=Control group; SBP=Systolic blood pressure; DBP=Diastolic blood pressure.

Table 3
Changes in Stress, Immune Response(Salivary IgA), and Fatigue Before and After Aroma Self-foot Reflexology Massage (N=52)
jkan-42-709-i003

Exp.=Experimental group; Cont.=Control group; SBP=Systolic blood pressure; DBP=Diastolic blood pressure.

Notes

This article is a revision of the first author's master's thesis from Chosun University.

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