THE EFFECT OF FOOT REFLEXOLOGY ON ANXIETY IN PATIENTS WITH CORONARY ARTERY BYPASS SURGERY REFERRED TO SEYED-AL-SHOHADA TEACHING HOSPITAL, URMIA, 2012

One of the problems that patients with coronary artery bypass surgery encounter is
anxiety that can have undesirable consequences. This research aims to investigate the effects of foot
reflexology on anxiety in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery.
Materials & Methods: This clinical trial was performed on 52 patients after coronary artery bypass
surgery. Data collection instruments included a demographic questionnaire, and the Spielberg’s anxiety
inventory. The patients were randomly assigned into two groups of experimental and control groups. Foot
reflexology was performed for 30 min in the experimental group. Anxiety levels were measured before
and after intervention. The control group did not receive any intervention and anxiety was measured twice
within 30 minutes.
Results: Patients in the intervention group had significantly decreased in anxiety after the foot reflexology
(P=0.000). However, no significant difference was observed in the control group. The mean anxiety score
between the two groups before the intervention was not statistically significant. But anxiety scores
between the two groups after intervention was statistically significant (P= 0.000)
Conclusion: This study showed that foot reflexology can be used as an effective, safe and cost-effective
nursing intervention in reducing anxiety in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery.