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Lee: Effects of Self-Foot Reflexology on Stress, Fatigue, Skin Temperature and Immune Response in Female Undergraduate Students
Original Article
Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing

Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing 2011; 41(1): 110-118.

Published online: 28 February 2011

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2011.41.1.110

Effects of Self-Foot Reflexology on Stress, Fatigue, Skin Temperature and Immune Response in Female Undergraduate Students

Young-Mee Lee

Assistant Professor, Department of Nursing, Kangwon National University, Samcheok 2nd Campus, Samcheok, Korea.

Address reprint requests to: Lee, Young-Mee. Department of Nursing, Kangwon National University Samcheok 2nd Campus, 3 Hwangjo-ri, Dogye-eup, Samcheok 245-907, Korea. Tel: +82-33-540-3361, Fax: +82-33-540-3369, ymlee@kangwon.ac.kr

Received 6 August 2010       Accepted 25 February 2011

© 2011 Korean Society of Nursing Science

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of self-foot reflexology on stress (perceived stress, urine cortisol level, and serum cortisol level), fatigue, skin temperature and immune response in female undergraduate students.

Methods

The research design was a nonequivalent control group pretest-post test design. Participants were 60 university students: 30 in the experiment group and 30 in the control group. The period of this study was from April to June 2010. The program was performed for 1 hr a session, three times a week for 6 weeks. The data were analyzed using the SPSS/WIN 17.0 program.

Results

The results showed that self-foot reflexology was effective in reducing perceived stress and fatigue, and raised skin temperature in female undergraduate students. But cortisol levels and immune response were not statistically significant different.

Conclusion

The results of this study indicate that self-foot reflexology is an effective nursing intervention in reducing perceived stress and fatigue and, in improving skin temperature. Therefore, it is recommended that this be used in clinical practice as an effective nursing intervention for in female undergraduate students.

Keywords: Reflexology, Stress, Fatigue, Skin temperature, Immune response

Figures and Tables

Table 1
Homogeneity Test of General Characteristics (N=60)
jkan-41-110-i001

*Fisher's test:

Exp=experimental group; Cont=control group.

Table 2
Homogeneity Test of Pre-test Dependent Variables (N=60)
jkan-41-110-i002

Exp=experimental group; Cont=control group.

Table 3
Changes in Stress, Fatigue, Skin temperature, Natural Killer Cell Before and After Self-Foot Reflexology (N=60)
jkan-41-110-i003

Exp=experimental group; Cont=control group; SBP=Systolic Blood Pressure (mmHg); DBP=Diastolic Blood Pressure (mmHg).

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