Comparison of the effects of foot reflexology and abdominal massage in elderly individuals on constipation: A randomized controlled trial

This thesis study, as a randomized controlled fully experimental study, was conducted to determine and compare the effects of foot reflexology and abdominal massage applied to elderly individuals on constipation. The sample of this study, which was conducted in three different nursing homes/elderly care centers in a province in the Eastern Black Sea Region, consisted of a total of 90 elderly individuals, 30 in the reflexology, 30 in the abdominal massage and 30 in the control group. The data of the study were collected using the Rome IV Criteria, Bristol Stool Consistency Scale, Individual Identification Form, Individual Follow-up Form and Constipation Severity Scale. A total of eight sessions were applied to the elderly individuals in the reflexology and abdominal massage groups, every three days for three weeks. No intervention was applied to the elderly individuals in the control group. According to the findings of this study, after the intervention, the number of bowel sounds of the elderly individuals in the foot reflexology and the abdominal massage group was statistically significantly higher than those in the control group (p<0.05). It is statistically significant that the number of defecations after the intervention is higher in the foot reflexology and abdominal massage group compared to the control group (p<0.05). In addition, after the interventions, the total and sub-dimension scores of the constipation severity scale of the elderly individuals in the foot reflexology and abdominal massage group decreased statistically significantly compared to the elderly individuals in the control group (p<0.05). As a result, foot reflexology and abdominal massage interventions were effective on constipation by increasing the bowel sounds and weekly average defecation numbers of elderly individuals and decreasing the constipation severity scale scores during the interventions process. Accordingly, foot reflexology and abdominal massage interventions can be included in the nursing care processes in the management of constipation in elderly individuals.