INTRODUCTION:

Health is a precious aspect of all human beings as it is an asset for an individual. Rapidly, changing technology and dramatically expanding knowledge increase the responsibilities of a nurse in a complex health care environment. The care and concern of human being is highly technology based and have a little importance to humanism. In this context, the nurses are the one who will render “high touch” care in the midst of ‘high tech’ care.

Cancer is a leading cause of death. Worldwide, the disease accounted for 7.9 million deaths (or around 13% of all deaths worldwide) in 2007. The main types of cancer leading to overall cancer mortality each year are lung cancer (1.3 million deaths/year), stomach cancer (803,000 deaths/year), colorectal cancer (639,000 deaths/year), liver cancer (610,000 deaths/year), and breast cancer (519,000 deaths/year). More than 72% of all cancer deaths occurred in low and middle income countries. Deaths from cancer worldwide are projected to continue rising with an estimated 12 million deaths in 2030 (who, 2009).

The American Pain Society (1999) created the phase “Pain: The fifth vital sign” to increase awareness of pain assessment among health care professionals. The relief of pain is always a priority for nursing action. The pain relieving measure in nursing care includes maintaining a comfortable position, providing comfort device, administering complementary therapies such as relaxation, aroma therapy, music therapy, guided imagery, etc. Among these therapies, foot reflexology has got greater potential to be used by all nurses in the multidisciplinary pain management programme. Foot reflexology is one among little natural therapy which has got its evidence in patient care that can be implemented by all health professionals in order to attain a holistic approach in patient care.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM:

Effect of Foot Reflexology on Pain among Cancer Patients in Oncology Ward, Sri Ramakrishna Hospital, Coimbatore.

OBJECTIVES:

1. To assess pain among cancer patients.

2. Application of foot reflexology among cancer patients

3. To identify the effect of foot reflexology on pain among cancer patients

HYPOTHESES:

H01: There is no significant difference between the pain intensity scores of experimental and control group before foot reflexology.

H02: There is no significant difference between the pain intensity scores of experimental group before and after foot reflexology.

H03: There is no significant difference between the pain intensity scores of control group before and after foot reflexology.

H04: There is no significant difference between the pain intensity scores of control group and experimental group after foot reflexology.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Quasi experimental pretest and posttest control group design was adopted to carry out the study. The study was conducted in Sri Ramakrishna Hospital, Coimbatore. A purposive sample of 26 cancer patients in III and IV stage, both male and female were drawn for the study .The materials used were numerical pain Rating Scale(Bram riegel,1998), Foot Reflexology, Assessment of bio-physiological parameters such as Respiratory rate ,Heart rate and Blood pressure. Data assigned collection was done for 4 weeks. The samples selected were randomly to both experimental and control group. The experimental group received foot reflexology for 30 minutes every day till the sample gets discharged. Pre test and Post test pain intensity were measured using numerical pain rating scale.

FINDINGS:

Table 1: pain Intensity scores of EXPERIMENTAL AND control groups BEFORE foot reflexology

(N=26)

Group	Mean	Mean%	S.D.	‘t’ value
Experimental	3.15	24.23	0.55	0.541
Control	3	23	0.784	0.541

The above table.1 shows the difference between mean, mean%, standard deviation and ‘t’ value of experimental and control groups before foot reflexology. The t’ value is found to be less than the table value. This reveals that there is no significant difference found between experimental and control groups before foot reflexology. Hence, the two groups are found to be homogenous.

Table 2: pain INTENSITY SCORES OF CONTROL group AND EXPERIMENTAL GROUP after foot reflexology

(N= 26)

Group	Mean	Mean%	S.D.	‘t’ value
Control	2.62	20.15	0.733	2.151*
Experimental	2	15.4	0.678	2.151*

* Significance level =0.05

The above table-2, shows the difference between mean, mean%, standard deviation and‘t’ value of control group and experimental group after foot reflexology. The‘t’ value is found to be greater than the table value. This reveals that there is a significant difference found between control group and experimental group after foot reflexology.

DISCUSSION:

With regard to the pain intensity score of 26 patients randomly assigned to experimental and control group. Pain intensity scores were assessed before and after administration of foot reflexology using Numerical Pain Rating Scale. Paired‘t’ test was used to prove the significance of this therapy. On comparing Table 1 and Table 2, the findings has resulted that there is a reduction in pain intensity among cancer patients at advanced stage of cancer. Hence foot reflexology can be adopted as an alternative medicine for conventional pharmacological treatments.

Conclusion:

Cancer is one of the world leading causes of death. Much of the sufferings met by the cancer patients are pain advanced stages (metastasis). Foot reflexology is one of the non pharmacological therapy can be performed anywhere, requires no special equipment, is non invasive, cost effective and do not compromise with patients privacy. Hence, foot reflexology is proved to be one of the effective natural therapies to relieve pain and promote quality of life of the cancer patients.

REFERENCES:

1. Burns, N., and Grove, S., (2002). Understanding Nursing Research (3^rd Ed.), London: W.B. Saunders Company.

2. Burton, A. (2006). Cancer Pain Management. Retrieved from http// www. Asian htm. Com on 15^th June 2009.

3. Cancer statistics. (2009). WHO. Retrieved from www.who.int/worldhealthreport on 6^th July 2009.

4. Dalton, Stephenson, N., and Carlson, J. (2003). Effect of foot reflexology on pain in patient with metastatic cancer, Applied Nursing Research. 16 (4) : 284- 6.

5. Ninnart. (2002). Foot reflexology massage: A healing touch. Retrieved from http: // foot reflexology/massage/Healing touch.com. Torry, F. (1993). The use of therapeutic massage as a nursing intervention to modify anxiety and the perception of cancer pain, Cancer Nursing. 16: 93- 101.

Received on 27.07.2011 Modified on 28.08.2011

Asian J. Nur. Edu. and Research 1(4): Oct-Dec. 2011; Page 107-108