EFFECT OF FOOT REFLEXOLOGY ON THE SEVERITY OF CONSTIPATION OF ELDERLY WOMEN RESIDING IN KAHRIZAK GERIATRIC NURSING HOME

Constipation is a common digestive problem in older adults that causes negative
effects on their quality of life. To remedy this problem in the elderly, there are different ways of
complementary and alternative medicine. The study aimed to determine the effects of foot reflexology
on the severity of constipation of elderly women residing in Kahrizak Geriatric Nursing Home.
Materials & Methods: The present study was a double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial. The
samples consisted of 56 elderly women with constipation according to the diagnostic criteria of Rome
III in Kahrizak nursing home, which were randomly divided into two 28-person group of the intervention
and control. The instrument used in this study included demographic questionnaire and Constipation
Assessment Scale which was completed by the assessor unaware of the intervention. The data were
analyzed by SPSS version 20 software. Chi-square test, independent t-test, ANOVA & Fisher tests were
used.
Results: According to the independent t-test, the difference between the severity of constipation in both
experimental and control groups at the end of the first six weeks was significant. It means that the first
week is the start of the intervention effect, and in general, foot reflexology was effective on the severity
of constipation in the elderly women nursing home residents. (P value < 0.001)
Conclusion: This study showed that reflexology can be effective as a complementary and non
pharmacologic method to reduce the severity of constipation in older women, and nurses can use this
simple, inexpensive and uncomplicated method as a complementary method in caring the elderly
patients with constipation