Korean J Rehabil Nurs.  2005 Jun;8(1):31-37.

The Effects of Foot Reflexology on Depression and Anxiety in Coal Workers' Pneumoconiosis

• Lee YM

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study was to evaluate the effects of foot reflexology on depression and anxiety in coal workers' pneumoconiosis. METHOD: The research design used was a non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design. The foot reflexology was performed for 60 minutes twice a week through five weeks in the experimental group, not in the control group. The subjects of this study consisted of both the experimental group of twenty-nine and the control group of thirty coal workers' pneumoconiosis. The data were collected from December 10, 2002 to February 15, 2003. To evaluate the effects of foot reflexology the scores of depression and anxiety were measured before and after the experiment in both groups. Data of this experiment were analyzed by Chi-square test, t-test, unpaired t-test, ANCOVA and Repeated Measures ANOVA with the SAS Program. RESULTS: The score of depression decreased in the experimental group, not in the control group. There was a significant difference of depression between the two groups. The score of anxiety decreased in the experimental group, not in the control group. There was a significant difference of anxiety between the two groups. CONCLUSION: As a summary of the study results, foot reflexology was regarded that it attributed to the emotional promotion of coal workers' pneumoconiosis. Therefore the foot reflexology is considered that might be used as an effective skill of nursing intervention program for coal workers' pneumoconiosis.

Keyword

Reflexology; Depression; Anxiety; Pneumoconiosis

MeSH Terms

Anxiety*
Coal*
Depression*
Foot*
Massage*
Nursing
Pneumoconiosis*
Research Design
Coal