The effect of reflexology on hyperbilirübinemia in newborn infants

This research was conducted by Ankara University of Health Sciences. This study is a randomized controlled study to determine the effect of foot reflexology on bilirübin value in newborns hospitalized for the diagnosis and treatment of hyperbilirübinemia in the Neonatal Intensive Care Clinic of Sami Ulus Maternity and Child Health and Diseases Training and Research Hospital. The universe of the study, Ankara University of Health Sciences Between March 2018 and December 2018, babies were hospitalized for the purpose of diagnosis and treatment in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Sami Ulus Maternity and Pediatrics Training and Research Hospital. Sample of the 30 control (reflexology is not applied), 30 test (applied reflexology) being formed from a total of 60 infants. Socio-Demographic Information and Baby Information Form, which contains information related to the baby, were used for data collection. According to the results of the statistical evaluation, the number of infantile defecation according to the groups constituting the research group was statistically significant (p = 0.001; p <0.01). In the experimental group, the rate of infant feces 8 and more times a day was higher than the control group. According to the groups, there was a statistically significant difference between hospitalization and bilirübin measurements (p = 0.001; p <0.01); the experimental group was higher than the control group. There was a statistically significant difference between the groups according to the billirubin measurements (p = 0.001; p <0.01); the experimental group was lower than the control group. As a result, foot reflexology applied to infants was found to be effective on defecation number and bilirübin value. Keywords: Newborn, Reflexology, hyperbilirübinemia,