Effect of foot reflexology on pain, anxiety, and physiological indices in leukemia patients undergoing bone marrow aspiration: A randomized clinical trial study

IF 1.4 Q4 MEDICINE, RESEARCH & EXPERIMENTAL

Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications Pub Date : 2025-01-06 DOI:10.1016/j.conctc.2025.101427

Marjan Mehri , Mohamad Golitaleb , Ali Safdari , Sabah Madadi , Fatemeh Rafiei , Hossein Shahbazi , Razieh Mokhtari , Nazi Nejat

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Introduction

Patients with leukemia undergoing bone marrow aspiration (BMA) frequently experience considerable pain and anxiety, which may negatively impact physiological outcomes. Reflexology, a complementary therapeutic approach, has demonstrated effectiveness in reducing pain and anxiety across various medical procedures. This randomized clinical trial aimed to evaluate the impact of foot reflexology on pain, anxiety, and physiological indices in leukemia patients undergoing BMA.

Methods

This randomized clinical trial was conducted at Ayatollah Khansari Hospital in Arak between August 2021 and January 2023. Patients were randomly assigned to either a reflexology intervention group or a control group receiving routine care. The intervention group underwent a 30-min foot reflexology session. Pain was assessed using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), and anxiety levels were measured via the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Physiological indices, including systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, and arterial oxygen saturation, were measured before and after the intervention.

Results

Of the 72 patients, 68 completed the study (intervention: n = 35, control: n = 33). Post-intervention, the intervention group showed a significant reduction in systolic (p = 0.017) and diastolic blood pressure (p = 0.028), while the control group experienced no significant changes. Heart rate significantly increased in the control group (p = 0.030), but no significant change was observed in the intervention group (p = 0.977). Anxiety levels significantly decreased in the intervention group (p < 0.001), with a notable between-group difference (p = 0.006). Pain intensity was also significantly lower in the intervention group compared to the control group (p = 0.034).

Conclusion

Foot reflexology is an effective intervention for reducing pain and anxiety in leukemia patients undergoing BMA. Reflexology may be considered a valuable, non-invasive supportive therapy for managing procedural pain and anxiety in oncology settings.

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足部反射疗法对骨髓抽吸白血病患者疼痛、焦虑和生理指标的影响：一项随机临床试验研究。

导读：接受骨髓穿刺（BMA）的白血病患者经常经历相当大的疼痛和焦虑，这可能会对生理结果产生负面影响。反射疗法，一种补充治疗方法，已经证明在各种医疗程序中减少疼痛和焦虑的有效性。本随机临床试验旨在评估足部反射疗法对白血病BMA患者疼痛、焦虑和生理指标的影响。方法：这项随机临床试验于2021年8月至2023年1月在阿拉克的阿亚图拉汗萨里医院进行。患者被随机分配到反射疗法干预组或接受常规护理的对照组。干预组接受30分钟的足部反射治疗。疼痛采用数字评定量表（NRS）进行评估，焦虑水平采用斯皮尔伯格状态-特质焦虑量表（STAI）进行测量。测量干预前后的生理指标，包括收缩压、舒张压、心率、动脉血氧饱和度。结果：72例患者中，68例完成了研究（干预组：n = 35，对照组：n = 33）。干预后，干预组收缩压（p = 0.017）和舒张压（p = 0.028）明显降低，而对照组无明显变化。对照组患者心率明显升高（p = 0.030），干预组无明显变化（p = 0.977）。结论：足反射疗法是缓解白血病BMA患者疼痛和焦虑的有效干预手段。反射疗法可能被认为是一种有价值的、非侵入性的支持疗法，用于治疗肿瘤环境中的程序性疼痛和焦虑。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics-Pharmacology

CiteScore

2.70

自引率

6.70%

发文量

146

审稿时长

20 weeks

期刊介绍： Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications is an international peer reviewed open access journal that publishes articles pertaining to all aspects of clinical trials, including, but not limited to, design, conduct, analysis, regulation and ethics. Manuscripts submitted should appeal to a readership drawn from a wide range of disciplines including medicine, life science, pharmaceutical science, biostatistics, epidemiology, computer science, management science, behavioral science, and bioethics. Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications is unique in that it is outside the confines of disease specifications, and it strives to increase the transparency of medical research and reduce publication bias by publishing scientifically valid original research findings irrespective of their perceived importance, significance or impact. Both randomized and non-randomized trials are within the scope of the Journal. Some common topics include trial design rationale and methods, operational methodologies and challenges, and positive and negative trial results. In addition to original research, the Journal also welcomes other types of communications including, but are not limited to, methodology reviews, perspectives and discussions. Through timely dissemination of advances in clinical trials, the goal of Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications is to serve as a platform to enhance the communication and collaboration within the global clinical trials community that ultimately advances this field of research for the benefit of patients.