Examination of the effect of reflexology on symptom severity and quality of life in ibs-c patients

Examination of the Effect of Reflexology on Symptom Severity and Quality of Life in IBS-C Patients Objective: This study was planned with the aim of examining the effect of reflexology on symptom severity and quality of life in IBS-C patients. Method: The study consisted of pre-test and post-test in order to investigate the effect of reflexology on symptom severity and quality of life in patients with IBS-C patients. The study was carried out between June 2016 and December 2016 with the patients who were diagnosed with constipation predominant IBS who were referred to Atatürk Training and Research Hospital Gastroenterology Policlinic of Izmir Kâtip Çelebi University. For statistical power analysis, the minimum number of samples required for the study was set to 42 when the effect size was taken as 0.8 (using Cohen's criterion), taking α = 0.05, the power of the study as 0.80 (power) and a significant difference between the groups. From there, 30 of the control group and 30 of the experimental group were reached. However, due to various reasons such as province change and influenza, the study was completed with 28 patients in the control group and 27 patients in the treatment group. Data were collected using the Patient Identification Form, Visual Analog Scale, IBS QoL Scale, Depression Anxiety Stress Scale. Patients were invited to the control meeting 6 weeks later, where final test data were obtained. For the treatment group, 12 session reflexology including 2 sessions per week was applied. Relaxation techniques consisting of 20 steps were applied first and 8 reflex points were applied afterwards. After the last session reflexology application, the questionnaire forms were applied again and the final test data were obtained. Results: The age and the years of diagnosis of the patients in the control group and the treatment group were examined and no statistically significant difference was found between the groups (p> 0.05). Although there was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of abdominal pain, distension and constipation scores in the control group despite the decrease in median values as a result of pretest - posttest evaluations (p> 0.05), only the distress level (z = -4,482) were found to be statistically significant with the decrease in median value as a result of pretest-posttest evaluations. When comparing the pre-test scores of the IBS QOL scale of the control group and the patients in the treatment group; mean values were close to each other and there was no statistically significant difference (p = 0.909). The posttest median values were found to be lower and statistically significant (z = -4,824) (z = -4,175) when the IBS QOL scale total scores of the control and treatment groups were compared. In comparing IBS QOL post test measurements; the median values of the control and administration groups were different and there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (p <0.001). There was no statistically significant difference between the pre-test and the post-test scores of the NRSC scale scores of the control group (z = -2,064) (p = 0.86). In the treatment group, median values were found to be lower and statistically significant (z = -4.972) (p <0.001). There was no statistically significant difference between control and treatment groups on DASQ scale pre-test results (p> 0,05), but statistically significant difference was found between post-test scores (p <0.001). Conclusion: It has been found that reflexology has a positive effect on distention, stress and quality of life in the results and findings of the study. Keywords: Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Quality of Life, Reflexology, Nursing.