Effect of Foot Reflexology versus Warm Water Foot Soak with Body Relaxation Techniques on Symptoms and Quality of Life of Preeclampsia

Saber Nady Mohammed, Fatma; Khalaf Gooda, Walaa; Mostafa Abd Elzaher, Omima; Ahmed Abdelhafez, Amal

doi:10.21608/ejhc.2024.382656

Effect of Foot Reflexology versus Warm Water Foot Soak with Body Relaxation Techniques on Symptoms and Quality of Life of Preeclampsia

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Lecturer of Maternal and Newborn Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Beni-Suef University, Egypt.

² Assistant Professor of Family and Community Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Sohag University, Egypt.

³ Assistant Professor of Women Health and Obstetrics Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Minia University, Egypt.

10.21608/ejhc.2024.382656

Abstract

Background: preeclampsia is the second most common cause of maternal death worldwide. Also it is considered a primary factor for preterm birth, stillbirth, and neonatal death. Aim: to evaluate the effect of foot reflexology versus warm water foot soak with body relaxation techniques (BRTs) on symptoms and quality of life (QOL) of preeclampsia (PE). Design: A comparative quasi-experimental study design was applied. Setting: I t was carried out at in high-risk pregnancy wards and antenatal care out patient’s clinics in Maternity and Children University Hospital in Minia City on a purposive sample of 90 pregnant women experiencing mild preeclampsia. Tools: Three tools for gathering the data included: A structured interviewing questionnaire, preeclampsia follow-up chart, and quality of life questionnaire. Results: The findings from this study showed a significant reduction in the degree of pitting edema among reflexology group compared to the control and warm water foot soaks with BRTs groups. Also, there was a statistically significant effect of reflexology and warm water foot soak with BRTs on reduction of the degree of proteinuria, the value of mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) and improvement in the quality of life in contrast to the control group. Conclusion: Reflexology and warm water foot soak with BRTs led to reduction in the degree of pitting edema, the value of MABP, degree of proteinuria and quality of life. However, the reflexology was more effective than warm water foot soak with BRTs in this respect. Recommendation: larger-scale studies are needed to confirm findings and refine protocols, and to verify the safety of reflexology and warm water foot soak with BRTs on symptoms of preeclampsia.

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