Effect of foot reflexology on premenstrual syndrome among nursing students at Faculty of Nursing, Damanhour University

Ismail Abdel Aziz Ismail, Nemat; Zaki Hassan Roma, Naglaa; Mansour Lamadah, Sahar

doi:10.21608/ejhc.2021.205485

Effect of foot reflexology on premenstrual syndrome among nursing students at Faculty of Nursing, Damanhour University

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Assistant professor of Obstetrics and Gynecologic Nursing Faculty of Nursing, Damanhour University, Egypt

² Lecturer of Obstetrics and Gynecologic Nursing Faculty of Nursing, Alexandria University, Egypt.

³ Assistant professor of Obstetrics and Gynecologic Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Alexandria University, Egypt.

10.21608/ejhc.2021.205485

Abstract

Background: Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a prevalent health issue among
adolescents. It is one of the most frequent conditions affecting women of reproductive age,
and it can have a considerable impact on daily activities and can considerably reduce
female’s quality of life. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of foot reflexology
on premenstrual syndrome among nursing students at Faculty of Nursing, Damanhour
University. Subjects and method: A quasi-experimental research design was carried out. A
convenient sample of 100 students was recruited to participate in the study. Two tools of data
collection were used: Tool I was socio demographic data and menstrual history structured
interview schedule, tool II was a modified version of premenstrual symptoms screening tool
for clinicians (PMSST). Results: The study results
revealed that the total score of PMS
severity was a statistically significant before and after two months of the intervention among
the study group, p=0.000. However, the difference was not statistically significant among the
control group (P=0.379). There was also statistically significant difference between the study
and control groups after two months of the intervention in favor of the former, where (p=
0.000). In addition, the negative effect of PMS on daily life activities significantly decreased
among the study group
after two months of the intervention p=0.000. Conclusion and
recommendations: The
study concluded that the female students who received reflexology
foot massage exhibited
less severity of premenstrual symptoms than those who received
placebo foot massage. It
is recommended that reflexology foot massage should be advised as
a non-pharmacological management to relieve PMS

Keywords