Therapeutic Touch and Foot Reflexology on Sleep Quality and Menopausal Symptoms
Comparative Effects of Therapeutic Touch and Foot Reflexology on Sleep Quality and Menopausal Symptoms in Earthquake-affected Postmenopausal Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial
This randomized controlled trial was designed to compare the effects of therapeutic touch and reflexology on sleep quality and menopausal symptoms in postmenopausal women affected by the February 6, 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquakes.
The study included 155 postmenopausal women assigned to therapeutic touch, reflexology, or control groups. Data were collected using the Participant Information Form, the Women's Health Initiative Insomnia Scale (WHIIS), and the Menopausal Symptom Assessment Scale (MSAS). The study evaluated sleep quality and menopausal symptoms at prespecified assessment points and compared changes in these outcomes among the study groups.
調査の概要
詳細な説明
Natural disasters can have substantial effects on individual and public health. Türkiye is frequently exposed to earthquakes because of its location within the active Mediterranean-Alpine seismic belt. On February 6, 2023, two major earthquakes with magnitudes of 7.7 and 7.6 occurred in the Pazarcık and Elbistan districts of Kahramanmaraş, respectively. The earthquakes affected multiple provinces and disrupted access to healthcare and other essential services. Such disruptions may increase the healthcare needs of vulnerable populations, including women.
The health effects of disasters may vary according to the characteristics of the disaster, preparedness, access to healthcare services, and individual and community resilience. Postmenopausal women may have specific healthcare needs following disasters because menopause-related physiological changes can be accompanied by symptoms such as hot flashes, sleep disturbances, anxiety, and other physical and psychological complaints. Exposure to stressful events may also influence sleep and menopause-related health concerns.
Previous research on women's health following earthquakes has primarily focused on reproductive health, while information regarding menopausal symptoms and sleep problems among postmenopausal women exposed to disasters is limited. Therefore, assessment of these health concerns and evaluation of interventions intended to address them are important for informing post-disaster healthcare practices.
Therapeutic touch is a noninvasive complementary practice involving the practitioner's use of the hands in relation to the individual's body. Reflexology is a complementary practice involving the application of pressure to specific reflex areas, particularly on the feet. Both approaches have been investigated in different populations in relation to symptoms such as stress, sleep disturbances, and menopause-related complaints.
This randomized controlled trial was designed to compare therapeutic touch, reflexology, and a control condition with respect to sleep quality and menopausal symptoms among postmenopausal women affected by the February 6, 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquakes.
A total of 155 postmenopausal women were included in the study. Participants were assigned to therapeutic touch, reflexology, or control groups. Data were collected using the Participant Information Form, the Women's Health Initiative Insomnia Scale (WHIIS), and the Menopausal Symptom Assessment Scale (MSAS). Sleep quality and menopausal symptoms were assessed at prespecified time points.
The planned statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, Pearson chi-square test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), paired-sample t-test, and repeated-measures analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). Pre-intervention scores and income level were included as covariates in the model, and Bonferroni correction was applied for pairwise comparisons. The analyses were planned to evaluate and compare changes in sleep quality and menopausal symptoms among the study groups.
研究の種類
入学 (実際)
段階
- 適用できない
連絡先と場所
研究場所
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Malatya、トルコ（Türkiye）
- İnönü Üniversitesi
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参加基準
適格基準
就学可能な年齢
- 大人
健康ボランティアの受け入れ
説明
Inclusion Criteria:
- Women aged 45-64 years.
- Affected by the February 6, 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquakes.
- Natural postmenopause (no spontaneous menstruation for at least 12 consecutive months).
- Living in the container settlement during the study period.
- Able to communicate in Turkish.
- Provided written informed consent.
Exclusion Criteria:
- History of surgical menopause.
- Current menopausal hormone therapy.
- Diagnosis of a psychiatric disorder.
- Use of antidepressants, benzodiazepines, hypnotics, narcotic analgesics, or antihistamines.
- Current use of Reiki, acupressure, phytoestrogens, or other complementary therapies.
- Foot wounds, infection, or open lesions preventing reflexology.
- Refusal to participate or withdrawal of consent.
研究計画
研究はどのように設計されていますか？
デザインの詳細
- 主な目的：支持療法
- 割り当て：ランダム化
- 介入モデル：並列代入
- マスキング：なし（オープンラベル）
武器と介入
参加者グループ / アーム |
介入・治療 |
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実験的：Therapeutic Touch Group
Participants in the therapeutic touch group received a total of eight sessions of therapeutic touch twice a week for four weeks, in accordance with the standard application protocol recommended in the relevant literature. Each session lasted approximately 15 minutes 24,31. The applications were planned taking into account the days and times convenient for the participants and were performed by the researcher who had completed the first and second level therapeutic touch training organized by the Therapeutic Touch International Association and was entitled to receive certification. Participants in the reflexology group received a total of eight sessions of foot reflexology twice a week for four weeks, in accordance with the standard reflexology protocol. Each session lasted approximately 30 minutes. The applications were planned taking into account the days and times convenient for the participants and were performed by the researcher who had a Ministry of Health-approved reflexologist |
Therapeutic Touch was administered twice weekly for four weeks (8 sessions).
Each session lasted approximately 15 minutes and was delivered by a certified Therapeutic Touch practitioner.
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実験的：Reflexology Group
Foot reflexology treatments were performed by a researcher holding a Ministry of Health-approved Reflexologist Practitioner certificate.
Prior to the treatment, participants' feet were assessed for the presence of wounds, infections, edema, or open lesions.
Participants deemed suitable were positioned supine or semi-sitting.
After cleaning and relaxing the feet with a suitable massage oil, manual pressure was applied to the solar plexus, pituitary gland, pineal gland, kidney, adrenal gland, heart, lungs, stomach, liver/spleen, ovaries, and uterus reflex points using toe-walking and pressure techniques according to the standard reflexology protocol.
The session was concluded with relaxing stroking movements.
Each session consisted of 15 minutes of reflexology applied to each foot, for a total of 30 minutes.
Treatments were performed twice a week for four weeks, with each participant receiving a total of eight sessions.
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Foot reflexology was administered twice weekly for four weeks (8 sessions).
Each session lasted approximately 30 minutes and was delivered by a certified reflexologist.
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介入なし：Control Group
Participants in the control group received no intervention during the four-week study period.
Following the completion of the final test assessments, participants who requested it received two sessions of therapeutic touch or foot reflexology as an ethical measure.
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この研究は何を測定していますか？
主要な結果の測定
結果測定 |
メジャーの説明 |
時間枠 |
|---|---|---|
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Sleep Quality
時間枠：Baseline and Week 4
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Sleep quality will be assessed using the Women's Health Initiative Insomnia Rating Scale (WHIIRS).
The total score ranges from 0 to 20, with higher scores indicating greater severity of insomnia symptoms and poorer sleep quality.
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Baseline and Week 4
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二次結果の測定
結果測定 |
メジャーの説明 |
時間枠 |
|---|---|---|
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Postmenopausal Symptoms
時間枠：Baseline and Week 4
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Postmenopausal Symptoms Postmenopausal symptoms will be assessed using the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS). The total score ranges from 0 to 44, with higher scores indicating greater severity of menopausal symptoms and therefore a worse outcome. |
Baseline and Week 4
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協力者と研究者
研究記録日
主要日程の研究
研究開始 (実際)
一次修了 (実際)
研究の完了 (実際)
試験登録日
最初に提出
QC基準を満たした最初の提出物
最初の投稿 (実際)
学習記録の更新
投稿された最後の更新 (実際)
QC基準を満たした最後の更新が送信されました
最終確認日
詳しくは
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