Asian Oncol Nurs.  2012 Dec;12(4):305-313. 10.5388/aon.2012.12.4.305.

The Effects of Foot Reflexology on Peripheral Neuropathy, Symptom Distress, Anxiety and Depression in Cancer Patients Treated with Oxaliplatin

• Lee SY
• Ham YH
• Ok ON
• Kim EJ
• Kwon IG
• Hwang MS
• Cho MS

• KMID: 2168796
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5388/aon.2012.12.4.305

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study was done to clarify the effects of foot reflexology on peripheral neuropathy, symptom distress, anxiety and depression in cancer patients treated with oxaliplatin.
METHODS
A quasi-experimental design was employed. Changes in the variables were evaluated to test the effects of foot reflexology. Participants were cancer patients treated with oxaliplatin (experimental group 14 and control group 17). Peripheral neuropathy, symptom distress, anxiety and depression were measured before and after reflexology. Data were collected from October, 2010 to April, 2011. chi2-test, Fisher's exact test, t-test, Wilcoxon signed rank test and the Mann-Whitney U test were used to analyze the data.
RESULTS
The experimental group who received foot reflexology experienced less peripheral neuropathy and symptom distress than the control group. There was no difference in anxiety and depression between the experimental and control group.
CONCLUSION
The foot reflexology program adopted in this study was found to be an effective method to reduce peripheral neuropathy and symptom distress. We recommend foot reflexology for patients with chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy.

Keyword

Foot Reflexology; Peripheral Neuropathies; Symptom; Anxiety; Depression

MeSH Terms

Anxiety*
Depression*
Drug Therapy
Foot*
Humans
Massage*
Peripheral Nervous System Diseases*

Reference

1. Choie MH, Jeong IS, Jeong TY, Kim KS, Yoo HS. Effects of reflexology foot massage to improve quality of life and reduce anxiety for hospitalized cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy or radioisotope therapy. J Korean Orient Oncol. 2009. 14:61–74.

2. National Comprehensive Cancer Network. NCCN practice guidelines in oncology:distress management (V.1.2010). Accessed June 3, 2010. http://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician-gls/PDF/distress.pdf.

3. Rhodes VA, Watson PM. Symptom distress the concept: past & present. Semin Oncol Nurs. 1987. 3:242–247.

4. Armstrong T, Almadrones L, Gilbert MR. Chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy. Oncol Nurs Forum. 2005. 32:305–311.

5. Smith EM, Beck SL, Cohen J. The total neuropathy score:a tool for measuring chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy. Oncol Nurs Forum. 2008. 35:96–102.

6. Grealish L, Lomasney A, Whiteman B. Foot massage: a nursing intervention to modify the distressing symptoms of pain and nausea in patients hospitalized with cancer. Cancer Nurs. 2000. 23:237–243.

7. Ham JH, Lee JB, Kim BH, Kang JS, Oh YJ, Kwon EJ, et al. The effects of foot reflexology on anxiety, nausea and vomiting in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma chemotherapy - in focus of transarterial chemoembolization. Clin Nurs Res. 2003. 8:147–167.

8. Hwang KH, Choi ES, Yoo YS. Effects of foot reflexzone massage on state-anxiety and discomfort in ovarian cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Korean J Women Health Nurs. 2005. 11:209–217.

9. Stephenson N, Swanson M, Dalton J, Keefe FJ, Engelke M. Partner delivered reflexology: effects on cancer pain and anxiety. Oncol Nurs Forum. 2007. 34:127–132.

10. Beck HG. Theory and practice of therapeutic massage. 1999. New York: Milady Publishing.

11. Mackey BT. Massage therapy and reflexology awareness. Nurs Clin North Am. 2001. 36:159–170.

12. Stephenson N, Weinrich SP, Tavakoli AS. The effects of foot reflexology on anxiety and pain in patients with breast and lung cancer. Oncol Nurs Forum. 2000. 27:67–72.

13. Kwak MK, Kim EJ, Lee ER, Kwon IG, Hwang MS. Characteristics and quality of life in patients with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. J Korean Oncol Nurs. 2010. 10:231–239.

14. Kim EJ, Kyong BS. The effects of foot reflexology on pain and quality of sleep in patients with terminal cancer. J Korean Clin Nurs Res. 2008. 14:33–44.

15. Hulme J, Waterman H, Hillier VF. The effect of foot massage on patients perception of care following laparoscopic sterilization as day case patients. J Adv Nurs. 1999. 30:460–471.

16. Postma TJ, Aaronson NK, Heimans JJ, Muller MJ, Hildebrand JG, Delattre JY, et al. The development of an EORTC quality of life questionnaire to assess chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy: the QLQ CIPN20. Eur J Cancer. 2005. 41:1135–1139.

17. Wewers ME, Lowe NK. A critical review of visual analogue scales in the measurement of clinical phenomena. Res Nurs Health. 1990. 13:227–236.

18. Spielberger CD. Anxiety:state trait process, stress and anxiety. 1975. New York: John Wiley and Sons.

19. Battle J. Relationship between self esteem and depression. Psychol Rep. 1978. 42:745–746.

20. Zigmond AS, Snaith PR. The hospital anxiety and depression scale. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 1983. 67:361–370.

21. Oh SM, Min KJ, Park DB. A study on the standardization of the hospital anxiety and depressed scale for koreans - a comparison of normal, depressed and anxious groups. J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc. 1999. 38:289–296.

22. National Cancer Institute. Common terminology criteria for adverse events (v.4.0). Accessed July 15, 2010. http://www.calgb.org/Public/meetings/presentations/2009/summergroup/craconted/06a_CTCAE-Setser_062009.pdf.

23. Wang MJ. Reflex zone therapy. 2002. Seoul: Hyunmoon.

24. Cho SH, Cho KJ. Foot reflexology. 2003. Seoul: Jungdammedia.

25. Byers DC. Better health with foot reflexology. 1983. St. Petersburg, FL: Ingham Publishing.

26. Sharp DM, Walker MB, Chaturvedi A, Upadhyay S, Hamid A, Walker AA, et al. A randomised, controlled trial of the psychological effects of reflexology in early breast cancer. Eur J Cancer. 2010. 46:312–322.