REFLEXOLOGY AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN DIABETIC PATIENTS: RANDOMIZED CLINICAL TRIAL

Beatriz Bertolaccini Martinez; Ana Raphaela Simoes; Guilherme Vieira Machado; Gabriela Silva Mart�nez; Aline Coelho Schwart; Adriana Teresa Silva Santos

Volume : VIII, Issue : I, January - 2018

REFLEXOLOGY AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN DIABETIC PATIENTS: RANDOMIZED CLINICAL TRIAL

Beatriz Bertolaccini Martinez, Ana Raphaela Simoes, Guilherme Vieira Machado, Gabriela Silva Mart Nez, Aline Coelho Schwart, Adriana Teresa Silva Santos

Abstract :

BACKGROUND: The chronic nature of diabetes mellitus and the complexity of its treatment interfere with the patient‘s quality of life (QOL). Reflexology is one of the most popular complementary therapies in the world. It is a systematic practice in which applying some pressure to any particular points on the feet gives impacts on the health of related parts of the body. The current study aimed to evaluate the effects of feet reflexology on the quality of life of diabetic patients. METHODS: Randomized, controlled and single–blind clinical trial performed at a diabetes educational center, in Brazil. Sixty two type 2 diabetic patients were randomized to receive self–care guidelines with feet and 12 sessions of feet reflexology (TG; n=32), and only self–care guidelines with feet (CG; n=30). Before starting reflexology therapy and after four consecutive weeks were applied the instruments for QOL (SF–36), and the Stanford Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQ–DI), for assessment of functional capacity. This research was conducted in accordance with the ethical recommendations of the Declaration of Helsinki. RESULTS: After feet reflexology therapy the SF–36 scores, functional capacity (FC), role–physical (RP), pain (P), role–emotional (RE), and HAQ–DI were better in TG group, when compared with CG group, (FC: TG=90,8±10,7 vs CG=83,5±5,0, p=0,01; RP: TG=95,3±7,6 vs CG=85,3±85,3, p=0,01, P: TG=80,2±7,2 vs CG=67,3±12,2, p=0,01; RE: TG=95,0±7,2 vs CG=81,5±15,1, p=0,01; HAQ–DI: TG=93,7% vs CG=66,7%, p=0,01). CONCLUSION: Feet reflexology therapy has improved the patient‘s quality of life (QOL), in functional capacity, role– physical, pain, role–emotional aspects.