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Choi and Lee: Effects of Foot-Reflexology Massage on Fatigue, Stress and Postpartum Depression in Postpartum Women
Original Article

Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing 2015; 45(4): 587-594.

Published online: 31 August 2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2015.45.4.587

Effects of Foot-Reflexology Massage on Fatigue, Stress and Postpartum Depression in Postpartum Women

Mi Son Choi1, Eun Ja Lee2

1Graduate School of Nursing, Gachon University, Incheon, Korea.

2College of Nursing, Gachon University, Incheon, Korea.

Address reprint requests to: Lee, Eun Ja. College of Nursing, Gachon University, 191 Hambakmoe-ro, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon 21936, Korea. Tel: +82-32-820-4209, Fax: +82-32-820-4201, ejlee@gachon.ac.kr

Received 27 February 2015       Revised 5 March 2015       Accepted 18 May 2015

© 2015 Korean Society of Nursing Science

(open-access):

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution NoDerivs License. (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/) If the original work is properly cited and retained without any modification or reproduction, it can be used and re-distributed in any format and medium.

Abstract

Purpose

To identify the effects of foot reflexology massage on fatigue, stress and depression of postpartum women.

Methods

A nonequivalent control group pre-post design was used. A total of 70 women in a postpartum care center were recruited and were assigned to the experimental group (35) or control group (35). Foot reflexology massage was provided to the experimental group once a day for three days. Data were collected before and after the intervention program which was carried out from December, 2013 to February, 2014. Data were analyzed using Chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, and t-test.

Results

The level of fatigue in the experimental group was significantly lower than the control group (t= - 2.74, p =.008). The level of cortisol in the urine of women in the experimental group was significantly lower than the control group (t= - 2.19, p =.032). The level of depression in the experimental group was significantly lower than the control group (t= - 3.00, p =.004).

Conclusion

The results show that the foot reflexology massage is an effective nursing intervention to relieve fatigue, stress, and depression for postpartum women.

Keywords: Foot, Massage, Fatigue, Cortisone, Postpartum depression

Figures and Tables

Table 1

Homogeneity Test for General Characteristics (N=70)

jkan-45-587-i001

*Fisher's exact test; Exp.=Experimental group; Cont.=Control group.

Table 2

Homogeneity Test for Pregnancy, Delivery and Postpartum Care (N=70)

jkan-45-587-i002

*Fisher's exact test; Exp.=Experimental group; Cont.=Control group.

Table 3

Homogeneity Test for Dependent Variables between Two Groups (N=70)

jkan-45-587-i003

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

Table 4

Differences in Fatigue, Cortisol, and Postpartum Depression between Two Groups (N=70)

jkan-45-587-i004

Exp.=Experimental group (n=35); Cont.=Control group (n=35).

Notes

This manuscript is a condensed form of the first author's master's thesis from Gachon University.

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