Foot Reflexology Effect on Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea, Vomiting and its Relation on Patients' Hydration Status and Fatigue Level

Elham. Mohammed, Hend; H. Mohammed, Amal; A. Fergany, Lamyaa; A. Mohamed, Gehan

doi:10.21608/ejhc.2024.435532

Foot Reflexology Effect on Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea, Vomiting and its Relation on Patients' Hydration Status and Fatigue Level

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Assistant Professor of Medical-Surgical Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Minia University, Egypt

² Assistant Professor of Community Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Minia University, Egypt

³ Lecturer of Physical Therapy for neurological & neurosurgical disorders, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Lotus University, Minia.

⁴ Assistant Professor of Medical-Surgical Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Minia University, and Lotus University, Minia, Egypt.

10.21608/ejhc.2024.435532

Abstract

Background: Chemotherapy is one modalities of treatment cancer, but it often causes side effects as nausea, vomiting as well as fatigue. Reflexology is hence reducing these side effects. Aim of study is to assess the effects of foot reflexology on chemotherapy- caused nausea, vomiting and its relation on patients' hydration status and fatigue level. The quasi-experimental design is the study design. Setting; Research was implemented in oncology unit at Minia University hospital. Sample; A purposive sample of 50 patients receiving chemotherapy was recruited into two equivalent groups (study as well as control). Tools; four tools were utilized; the 1^st is structured interview questionnaire, 2^nd tool: Rhodes Index of Nausea, Vomiting, as well as tool of Retching self-report assessment, 3^rd tool is the Brief Fatigue Inventory self-report assessment and the 4^th tool is the assessment of patient's hydration status. Results; the present research revealed that nearly one third of two groups (32%) have breast cancer with stage III of disease. Majority of study as well as control group (84% & 80% respectively) complain from severe scores of nausea, vomiting at baseline assessment which significantly decrease among study compared to control participants. Moreover, significant improvement in all hydration parameters including skin turgor (60%) & tongue moisture (40%) among study participants compared to (16% & 12% respectively) among control ones. Conclusion; foot reflexology was revealed to significantly reduce chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting with improving patient’s hydration status plus decreasing fatigue level. Recommendations; it was recommended that applying foot reflexology can effectively reduce annoying adverse effects of chemotherapy in oncology unit.

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