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Original Article
Effects of Foot-Reflexology Massage on Fatigue, Stress and Postpartum Depression in Postpartum Women
Mi Son Choi, Eun Ja Lee
Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing 2015;45(4):587-594.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2015.45.4.587
Published online: August 31, 2015

1Graduate School of Nursing, Gachon University, Incheon, Korea.

2College of Nursing, Gachon University, Incheon, Korea.

Address reprint requests to: Lee, Eun Ja. College of Nursing, Gachon University, 191 Hambakmoe-ro, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon 21936, Korea. Tel: +82-32-820-4209, Fax: +82-32-820-4201, ejlee@gachon.ac.kr
• Received: February 27, 2015   • Revised: March 5, 2015   • Accepted: May 18, 2015

© 2015 Korean Society of Nursing Science

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution NoDerivs License. (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/) If the original work is properly cited and retained without any modification or reproduction, it can be used and re-distributed in any format and medium.

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  • Purpose
    To identify the effects of foot reflexology massage on fatigue, stress and depression of postpartum women.
  • Methods
    A nonequivalent control group pre-post design was used. A total of 70 women in a postpartum care center were recruited and were assigned to the experimental group (35) or control group (35). Foot reflexology massage was provided to the experimental group once a day for three days. Data were collected before and after the intervention program which was carried out from December, 2013 to February, 2014. Data were analyzed using Chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, and t-test.
  • Results
    The level of fatigue in the experimental group was significantly lower than the control group (t= - 2.74, p =.008). The level of cortisol in the urine of women in the experimental group was significantly lower than the control group (t= - 2.19, p =.032). The level of depression in the experimental group was significantly lower than the control group (t= - 3.00, p =.004).
  • Conclusion
    The results show that the foot reflexology massage is an effective nursing intervention to relieve fatigue, stress, and depression for postpartum women.
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Table 1

Homogeneity Test for General Characteristics (N=70)

jkan-45-587-i001.jpg

*Fisher's exact test; Exp.=Experimental group; Cont.=Control group.

Table 2

Homogeneity Test for Pregnancy, Delivery and Postpartum Care (N=70)

jkan-45-587-i002.jpg

*Fisher's exact test; Exp.=Experimental group; Cont.=Control group.

Table 3

Homogeneity Test for Dependent Variables between Two Groups (N=70)

jkan-45-587-i003.jpg

Exp.=Experimental group; Cont.=Control group.

Table 4

Differences in Fatigue, Cortisol, and Postpartum Depression between Two Groups (N=70)

jkan-45-587-i004.jpg

Exp.=Experimental group (n=35); Cont.=Control group (n=35).

Figure & Data

REFERENCES

    Citations

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      Effects of Foot-Reflexology Massage on Fatigue, Stress and Postpartum Depression in Postpartum Women
      J Korean Acad Nurs. 2015;45(4):587-594.   Published online August 31, 2015
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    Effects of Foot-Reflexology Massage on Fatigue, Stress and Postpartum Depression in Postpartum Women
    Effects of Foot-Reflexology Massage on Fatigue, Stress and Postpartum Depression in Postpartum Women

    Homogeneity Test for General Characteristics (N=70)

    *Fisher's exact test; Exp.=Experimental group; Cont.=Control group.

    Homogeneity Test for Pregnancy, Delivery and Postpartum Care (N=70)

    *Fisher's exact test; Exp.=Experimental group; Cont.=Control group.

    Homogeneity Test for Dependent Variables between Two Groups (N=70)

    Exp.=Experimental group; Cont.=Control group.

    Differences in Fatigue, Cortisol, and Postpartum Depression between Two Groups (N=70)

    Exp.=Experimental group (n=35); Cont.=Control group (n=35).

    Table 1 Homogeneity Test for General Characteristics (N=70)

    *Fisher's exact test; Exp.=Experimental group; Cont.=Control group.

    Table 2 Homogeneity Test for Pregnancy, Delivery and Postpartum Care (N=70)

    *Fisher's exact test; Exp.=Experimental group; Cont.=Control group.

    Table 3 Homogeneity Test for Dependent Variables between Two Groups (N=70)

    Exp.=Experimental group; Cont.=Control group.

    Table 4 Differences in Fatigue, Cortisol, and Postpartum Depression between Two Groups (N=70)

    Exp.=Experimental group (n=35); Cont.=Control group (n=35).


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