The effect of reflexology massage and foot bath on pain andquality of life in diabetic individuals wi̇th neuropathi̇c pain

The study was conducted in Adıyaman University Training and Research Hospital as an randomized experimental controlled study in order to examine the effects of foot reflexology massage and foot bath applied to people with diabetes with neuropathic pain on pain and quality of life. The research was completed between July 19, 2020, and March 22, 2021. The population of the study consisted of volunteers who applied to the internal medicine outpatient clinic of the Adıyaman University Training and Research Hospital annex building, and whose 4-Questions-Neuropathic Pain Questionnaire's (DN4) and Visual Equivalence Scale's (VAS) pain scores were 4 and above 4. The study was completed with 90 patients, and there were two intervention groups, the first one was the foot reflexology massage group (n: 30), the second one was the footbath group (n: 30), and a control group (n: 30). Before starting the research, necessary ethical and institutional permissions were obtained for research. In the study, the patient information form, the DN4 4-questions-neuropathic pain questionnaire, the NePIQoL-neuropathic pain impact on quality of life questionnaire, and the VAS-visual equivalence scale were used, protective sensory examination was carried out with the Semmes-Weinstein monofilament (SWM) test and the vibration perception threshold (VPT) test. The patients in the foot reflexology group were given foot reflexology massage for 30 minutes on each foot once a week, footbath training was given to the footbath group, and a footbath was given by the patient himself, for 10 minutes twice a day, on 3 days a week for 6 weeks, and follow-ups were implemented via telephone. No intervention was made in the control group. All groups were given foot care training before the application. The mean scores of the groups participating in the study in the DN4 questionnaire at the first follow-up and at the 6th week were compared. The mean DN4 questionnaire scores of the groups participating in the study were 6.06±1.33 and 3.13±0.93 in the foot reflexology group, 5.43±1.27 and 3.9±0.99 in the footbath group, 5.26±1.43 and 4.36±1.40 in the control group. The pain severity mean scores of the groups participating in the study were 7.16±1.68 and 4.0±1.43 in the foot reflexology group, 6.6±1.71 and 2.53±1.16 in the footbath group, 6.86±1.67 and 5.63±1.29 in the control group. It was observed that the mean scores of the scale of the NePIQoL of the study groups were 138.21±15.19 and 114.5±16.02 in the foot reflexology group, 138.57±14.34 and 113.53±11.65 in the footbath group, and 137.93±17.96 and 126.97±14.48 in the control group. A statistically significant difference was found between the DN4 score, pain severity measurement results and quality of life scale mean scores among the groups participating in the study (p<0.05).In the study, it was determined that foot reflexology and foot bath had positive effects on patients' neuropathic score, pain severity and quality of life in patients with painful diabetic neuropathy. Foot reflexology and foot bath applications can be recommended as a complementary treatment in the treatment of these patients. Keywords: Keywords: Nursing, Diabetic Neuropathic Pain, Foot Reflexology, Foot Bath,