The Effects of Foot Reflexology on Self-Esteem and Vitality of the Elderly Women.
- Author:
Kang Yi LEE
1
Author Information
1. Department of Nursing, Daejeon University, Korea. kang52@dju.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Reflexology;
Self-esteem;
Vitality
- MeSH:
Aged;
Female;
Foot;
Humans;
Korea;
Massage
- From:Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamental Nursing
2009;16(1):39-45
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: This study was done to verify the effects of foot reflexology on the self-esteem and vitality of elders. METHOD: A non- equivalent control group pre- and post-test design was used. Research instruments to measure self-esteem and vitality were used in this study. The participants were elderly women hospitalized in a hospital in Okcheon County, Chungbuk Province, Korea. The 18 patients in the experimental group performed 40 minutes of foot reflexology per time for a total of 12 times over two weeks, and the 18 patients in the control group received regular care only. Before and after the experiment, both groups were tested for self-esteem and vitality. Frequencies, percentages, chi-square-test, t-test and Mann-Whitney U test with the SPSS/WIN 10.0 program were used to analyze the collected data. RESULTS: Vitality of the elderly women patients improved significantly in the experimental group. However self-esteem did not increase significantly. CONCLUSION: Foot reflexology is effective as a nursing intervention in improving the health of elders.
