The Effect of Reflexology on Pain, Comfort and Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy

The Effect of Reflexology on Pain, Comfort and Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy in Post-Cesarean Headache Due to Spinal Anesthesia

This study was conducted to determine the effects of reflexology applied to mothers with headache due to spinal anesthesia after Cesarean delivery on pain, comfort and breastfeeding self-efficacy levels. The study, which was conducted with a single-blind, randomized controlled experimental design, was conducted between April 2024 and August 2024 at the Department of Obstetrics and Pediatrics, SBU Van Training and Research Hospital with mothers who had cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia and had postpartum headache (Intervention group=30, Control group=30). Foot reflexology was applied to the mothers in the intervention group for a total of 30 minutes, 15 minutes on each foot. The control group was not subjected to any intervention other than routine nursing practices. Personal Information Form, Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Postpartum Comfort Scale (PPSC) and Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale (BSSE) were used as data collection tools.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Reflexology
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Reflexology

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 60
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey
  • Tuşba
    • VAN, Tuşba, Turkey, 65000
      • Van Yuzuncu Yıl University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• 18 years and older,
• performing SD under spinal anesthesia,
• experiencing postpartum headaches,
• Caesarean section performed at 37-42 weeks of gestation,
• giving only one live birth,
• open to written or oral communication,
• at least a primary school graduate,
• no complications during pregnancy,
• mothers who agreed to participate in the study

Exclusion Criteria:

• Performing a cesarean section at periods other than 37-42 weeks of gestation,
• caesarean section under general anesthesia,
• have health problems such as fractures, dislocations, phlebitis, arthritis, burns, wounds, eczema, fungus or inflammation in the foot tissue,
• with disease of the cardiovascular system,
• with chronic diseases such as hypertension or diabetes mellitus,
• Postpartum controlled analgesia administered,
• mothers with psychiatric diagnoses such as anxiety and depression

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Health Services Research
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
No Intervention: Control
Experimental: Reflexology	Behavioral: Reflexology; Reflexology application

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Visual Analog Scale	min-max (0-10), an increased score is a bad result	pre-test post-test (approximately eight months), reduce pain
Postpartum Comfort Scale	min-max (34-170), increased score is a good result	pre-test post-test (approximately eight months), Increasing Postpartum Comfort
Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale	min-max (14-70), increased score is a good result	pre-test post-test (approximately eight months), Increasing breastfeeding self-efficacy

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Yuzuncu Yıl University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): January 1, 2024
• Primary Completion (Actual): August 20, 2024
• Study Completion (Actual): August 30, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 31, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 7, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): March 25, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 25, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 7, 2025
• Last Verified: January 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: Reflexology

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No