The effect of stress on foot reflex zone therapy on anxiety, hemodynamic parameters of patients waiting for cardiac catheterization

Cardiac catheterization as a cardiac diagnostic test may lead to anxiety and fear in patients. High levels of anxiety can cause changes in the hemodynamic parameters of patients. Foot reflex zone massage is a method of alternative medicine may be useful in the reduction of anxiety. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of foot reflex zone massage on anxiety and hemodynamic parameters in patients waiting for cardiac catheterization. In this randomized clinical trial conducted in 2014، 90 patients waiting for cardiac catheterization were randomly divided into control and experimental groups. Patients in the experimental group received foot reflex zone massage 20 minutes for each patient، while the control group received routine care. Levels of anxiety using the Spielburger questionnaire and hemodynamic parameters were measured before and after cardiac catheterization in both groups. The collected data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The data were analyzed by independent t-test using SPSS (v. 16). The mean age of patients in the intervention and control groups was 56. 89±10. 737 59. 33± 10. 405 years، respectively. The mean score of anxiety of patients in the experimental and control groups was 34. 89±6. 929 and 36. 36±5. 874، respectively (p =0. 282) In terms of physiologic parameters، pulse rate، respiratory rate، systolic blood pressure in the experimental group showed a significant reduction after the intervention (p < 0. 05) According to this study’s findings، foot reflex zone massage as a non-pharmacologic، safe، and effective method helped in stabling and reducing patients'' hemodynamic parameters in patients who waited for cardiac catheterization.