The effect of reflexology treatment on anxiety

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of reflexology therapy on anxiety in nursing students.
METHODS: This research was a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest study that included a control group. The population consisted of 648 students enrolled in the nursing faculty of Ege University, in Izmir, Turkey. A sociodemographic information form, the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and a visual analog scale to measure perceived anxiety were used to collect the study data. Descriptive analysis was used to present the findings, as well as the results of t-tests of dependent and independent groups, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) testing, and repeated measures ANOVA testing.
RESULTS: A statistically significant decrease in the BAI mean score was recorded in the case group following the application of foot reflexology in comparison with the control group. A significant difference was also seen in the mean scores of the case group in within-group comparison of the STAI state anxiety scale, but no significant difference was found in comparison with the control group. A statistically significant difference was observed between the mean perceived anxiety score of the individuals in the reflexology group.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Six sessions of foot reflexology treatment had a positive effect on anxiety symptoms.