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Original Article
Effects of Self-Foot Reflexology on Stress, Fatigue, Skin Temperature and Immune Response in Female Undergraduate Students
Young-Mee Lee
Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing 2011;41(1):110-118.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2011.41.1.110
Published online: February 28, 2011

Assistant Professor, Department of Nursing, Kangwon National University, Samcheok 2nd Campus, Samcheok, Korea.

Address reprint requests to: Lee, Young-Mee. Department of Nursing, Kangwon National University Samcheok 2nd Campus, 3 Hwangjo-ri, Dogye-eup, Samcheok 245-907, Korea. Tel: +82-33-540-3361, Fax: +82-33-540-3369, ymlee@kangwon.ac.kr
• Received: August 6, 2010   • Accepted: February 25, 2011

© 2011 Korean Society of Nursing Science

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  • Purpose
    The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of self-foot reflexology on stress (perceived stress, urine cortisol level, and serum cortisol level), fatigue, skin temperature and immune response in female undergraduate students.
  • Methods
    The research design was a nonequivalent control group pretest-post test design. Participants were 60 university students: 30 in the experiment group and 30 in the control group. The period of this study was from April to June 2010. The program was performed for 1 hr a session, three times a week for 6 weeks. The data were analyzed using the SPSS/WIN 17.0 program.
  • Results
    The results showed that self-foot reflexology was effective in reducing perceived stress and fatigue, and raised skin temperature in female undergraduate students. But cortisol levels and immune response were not statistically significant different.
  • Conclusion
    The results of this study indicate that self-foot reflexology is an effective nursing intervention in reducing perceived stress and fatigue and, in improving skin temperature. Therefore, it is recommended that this be used in clinical practice as an effective nursing intervention for in female undergraduate students.
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Table 1
Homogeneity Test of General Characteristics (N=60)
jkan-41-110-i001.jpg

*Fisher's test:

Exp=experimental group; Cont=control group.

Table 2
Homogeneity Test of Pre-test Dependent Variables (N=60)
jkan-41-110-i002.jpg

Exp=experimental group; Cont=control group.

Table 3
Changes in Stress, Fatigue, Skin temperature, Natural Killer Cell Before and After Self-Foot Reflexology (N=60)
jkan-41-110-i003.jpg

Exp=experimental group; Cont=control group; SBP=Systolic Blood Pressure (mmHg); DBP=Diastolic Blood Pressure (mmHg).

Figure & Data

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        Effects of Self-Foot Reflexology on Stress, Fatigue, Skin Temperature and Immune Response in Female Undergraduate Students
        J Korean Acad Nurs. 2011;41(1):110-118.   Published online February 28, 2011
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      Effects of Self-Foot Reflexology on Stress, Fatigue, Skin Temperature and Immune Response in Female Undergraduate Students
      Effects of Self-Foot Reflexology on Stress, Fatigue, Skin Temperature and Immune Response in Female Undergraduate Students

      Homogeneity Test of General Characteristics (N=60)

      *Fisher's test:

      Exp=experimental group; Cont=control group.

      Homogeneity Test of Pre-test Dependent Variables (N=60)

      Exp=experimental group; Cont=control group.

      Changes in Stress, Fatigue, Skin temperature, Natural Killer Cell Before and After Self-Foot Reflexology (N=60)

      Exp=experimental group; Cont=control group; SBP=Systolic Blood Pressure (mmHg); DBP=Diastolic Blood Pressure (mmHg).

      Table 1 Homogeneity Test of General Characteristics (N=60)

      *Fisher's test:

      Exp=experimental group; Cont=control group.

      Table 2 Homogeneity Test of Pre-test Dependent Variables (N=60)

      Exp=experimental group; Cont=control group.

      Table 3 Changes in Stress, Fatigue, Skin temperature, Natural Killer Cell Before and After Self-Foot Reflexology (N=60)

      Exp=experimental group; Cont=control group; SBP=Systolic Blood Pressure (mmHg); DBP=Diastolic Blood Pressure (mmHg).


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