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.
Visão geral do estudo
Status
Intervenção / Tratamento
Descrição detalhada
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.
Tipo de estudo
Inscrição (Real)
Estágio
- Não aplicável
Contactos e Locais
Locais de estudo
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Malatya, Turquia (Türkiye)
- İnönü Üniversitesi
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Critérios de participação
Critérios de elegibilidade
Idades elegíveis para estudo
- Adulto
Aceita Voluntários Saudáveis
Descrição
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.
Plano de estudo
Como o estudo é projetado?
Detalhes do projeto
- Finalidade Principal: Cuidados de suporte
- Alocação: Randomizado
- Modelo Intervencional: Atribuição Paralela
- Mascaramento: Nenhum (rótulo aberto)
Armas e Intervenções
Grupo de Participantes / Braço |
Intervenção / Tratamento |
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Experimental: 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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Experimental: 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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Sem intervenção: 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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O que o estudo está medindo?
Medidas de resultados primários
Medida de resultado |
Descrição da medida |
Prazo |
|---|---|---|
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Sleep Quality
Prazo: 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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Medidas de resultados secundários
Medida de resultado |
Descrição da medida |
Prazo |
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Postmenopausal Symptoms
Prazo: 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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Colaboradores e Investigadores
Patrocinador
Datas de registro do estudo
Datas Principais do Estudo
Início do estudo (Real)
Conclusão Primária (Real)
Conclusão do estudo (Real)
Datas de inscrição no estudo
Enviado pela primeira vez
Enviado pela primeira vez que atendeu aos critérios de CQ
Primeira postagem (Real)
Atualizações de registro de estudo
Última Atualização Postada (Real)
Última atualização enviada que atendeu aos critérios de controle de qualidade
Última verificação
Mais Informações
Termos relacionados a este estudo
Palavras-chave
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Outros números de identificação do estudo
- 2024/03
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