The Effect of Foot Reflexology on Pain Intensity
in Patients with Advanced Cancer.
Background: Cancer-related pain is a major challenge for patients with advanced cancer, often compromising their quality of life despite pharmacological management. Foot reflexology, a complementary therapy applying pressure to specific points on the feet, has shown promise in reducing pain and promoting relaxation. However, evidence for its effectiveness in Jordan remains limited. This study investigates the impact of foot reflexology on cancer-related pain in patients with advanced cancer in Jordan.
Objective: To explore the effect of foot reflexology on cancer-related pain in patients with advanced cancer in Jordan
Method: A quasi-experimental design was employed using foot reflexology as an intervention. The intervention was applied in (15) sessions over a period of (8) weeks and each session lasted for (30) minutes. A sample of (19) patients diagnosed with advanced cancer in Jordan. The pain intensity scores were collected prior to and post each reflexology session using the pain numerical rating scale (PNRS). The results were statistically analyzed using various statistical analyses including t-test, one-way ANOVA, RMANOVA, and ANCOVA.
Results: The outcomes of this study indicate that the pooled mean pain intensity significantly decreased from a baseline of 7.57 (severe pain) to 4.4 (moderate pain) post-intervention, reflecting an average reduction of 41.9% (n=19). Repeated measures ANOVA confirmed a statistically significant and clinically meaningful linear decrease in pain scores across the 15 reflexology sessions (p < .001, ηp² = .577). Paired sample t-tests revealed statistically significant reductions in pain intensity before and after each reflexology session (p < .001 across sessions), indicating that foot reflexology consistently produced short-term pain relief. Most participants showed notable reductions in pain, with individual improvements ranging from (-12.5% to -75%). ANCOVA analyses suggested that age, occupation, and presence of chronic diseases significantly influenced post-intervention pain intensity
Conclusions: Foot reflexology significantly reduced cancer-related pain in patients with advanced cancer. The intervention demonstrated both immediate and sustained pain relief, highlighting its value as a non-pharmacological, supportive therapy in palliative care. Factors such as age, occupation, and chronic illnesses influenced outcomes, suggesting the need for individualized approaches. Reflexology may enhance pain management and quality of life for patients with advanced cancer in Jordan.
Keywords: Cancer pain management, advanced cancer, Jordan, foot reflexology, CAM.