Effect of foot reflexology practice in nurse managers on level of job stress and anxiety

This experimental study with a control group was carried out to determine the effect of foot reflexology in nurse managers on levels of job stress and anxiety. The sample consisted of a total of 63 nurse manager who work at a state, a university, and a district state hospital in Rize, 32 of which were in the control group, and 31 of which were in the experimental group. Data were obtained from information form, the state-trait anxiety inventory, and the job stress scale, which is also called as pre, post, and retention test. Nurse managers, who were in the experimental group in this study, were applied foot reflexology for eight sessions. According to the findings in the comparison between the groups, there were no statistically significant differences between the mean pre-test scores of job stress and state-trait anxiety (p>0.05), whereas the fact that mean post-test score of job stress and state anxiety of nurse managers in the experimental group who were applied foot reflexology practice was lower than the control group was found statistically significant (p<0.05). However, there was no statistically significant difference (p>0.05) among the mean post-test scores of trait anxiety. Also, the fact that in group comparisons, the mean post-test scores of nurse managers' job stress and state-trait anxiety in the experimental group were lower than the mean scores of pre-test and retention test was found to be statistically significant (p<0.05). As a result, foot reflexology practice decreased nurse managers' job stress and state anxiety levels, when the application does not continue, the positive effect is eliminated. It did not have a positive effect on trait anxiety level. It is recommended foot reflexology practice should be continued to reduce nurse managers' stress and anxiety levels.