The effect of reflexology massage applied to the foot on the perception of labor pain in nulliparous pregnant women

The study was conducted as a randomized controlled experimental trial to evaluate the effects of reflexology massage applied to the feet of nulliparous pregnant women on labor pain perception, birth comfort, duration of labor, fatigue levels, time to first breastfeeding, and birth satisfaction. It was carried out between February 2024 and February 2025 in the Delivery Unit of Istanbul Kanuni Sultan Suleyman Training and Research Hospital. The sample of the study consisted of a total of 70 nulliparous pregnant women, with 35 in the reflexology group and 35 in the control group. Data were collected using the "Pregnant Introduction Form," "Labor Monitoring Form," "Visual Analog Scale (VAS)," "Labor Comfort Scale," "Postpartum Evaluation Form," and "Short Form of Birth Satisfaction Scale," which were prepared based on a literature review. The mean age of the pregnant women participating in the study was 24.49±4.74 years in the reflexology group and 23.54±3.70 years in the control group. Among all participants, 94.3% were married, 44.3% were primary school graduates, 88.6% were housewives, 42.9% of their spouses were primary school graduates, 45.7% of their spouses were workers, 75.7% had an income equal to their expenses, 81.4% lived in a nuclear family structure, and 90% had been married for more than one year. When comparing the VAS pain scores between the reflexology and control groups, it was found that the pain scores of the pregnant women in the reflexology group were significantly lower at the VAS-4 and VAS-6 evaluations compared to the control group (p <.001). In this study, the comfort scores of the pregnant women who received reflexology massage were significantly higher during the latent (p = 0.008) and active phases (p = 0.044), while although the scores were higher in the transition phase compared to the control group, the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.072). No significant differences were found between the reflexology and control groups in terms of fatigue levels, duration of labor, satisfaction levels, and time to first breastfeeding. As a result, it was concluded that reflexology massage reduced labor pain and increased birth comfort in nulliparous pregnant women.