Document Type : Original Research Article
Authors
1
Phd student in reproductive health, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
2
Master of Midwifery, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
3
Retired Instructor, Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
4
Instructor of Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
5
Associate Professor of Acupuncture, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
6
professor, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Abstract
Background & aim: Most pregnant women have anxiety regarding screening tests such as amniocentesis. The current research was carried out to examine the effect of foot reflexology on pain and anxiety in pregnant women candidates for amniocentesis.
Methods: This randomized clinical trial study was performed on 60 pregnant women candidates for amniocentesis in Umm Al-Banin Hospital in Mashhad from March 2019 to June 2020. The participants were randomly divided into two groups. In the intervention group, foot reflexology was performed once, 30 minutes before amniocentesis (10 minutes for each foot and a total of 20 minutes), then they performed foot reflexology for 20 minutes in the solar plexus area for 10 days every day. Data were collected through demographic and obstetrics questionnaires, the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety questionnaire and Visual Analogue Scale. Data were analyzed using the SPSS16 software and independent t-test, Chi-square test, and covariance analysis.
Results: Immediately and 10 days after amniocentesis, the mean scores of state anxiety were significantly lower in the reflexology group (t=10.82, df=58, p<0.001 and t=21.47, df=58, p<0.001, respectively). The mean scores of trait anxiety were significantly lower in the foot reflexology group (36.73±3.16) (49.47±2.39) at 10 days after amniocentesis (t=17.60, df=58, p<0.001). Immediately after amniocentesis, the pain intensity was significantly lower in the reflexology group (p=0.001).
Conclusions: Reflexology is an effective approach to decrease pain and state-trait anxiety in pregnant women during amniocentesis and when they wait for the results of amniocentesis.
Keywords
Subjects
