The effects of foot reflexology massage on chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in suffering of cancer

Cancer accounts for 9% of all deaths worldwide. Chemotherapy is one of the most important cancer treatments that are nauseating to varying levels. Studies have shown that although anti-nausea and vomiting medications reduce nausea and vomiting, they do not completely eliminate them, so using complementary therapies with medication to reduce nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy is recommended. Reflective massage is one of the long-standing alternative therapies.

Initially, demographic questionnaire was used to obtain the baseline information. Next, the modified Rhodes standard questionnaire for children was given to respond them. The intensity of nausea and vomiting was measured before chemotherapy and then in the control group only the usual anti-nausea and vomiting drugs were used. In the intervention group, in addition to the treatment with standard anti-nausea and vomiting drugs, half an hour before chemotherapy and up to five days subsequently, reflexology massage was performed every morning. After the fifth day, the intensity of nausea and vomiting was assessed in both groups.

The results of comparing the situation of nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy-induced in the school-aged cancer patients treated with standard anti-nausea and vomiting drugs in the intervention and control groups showed that the mean and standard deviation of nausea in the control group was and in the intervention group 4.333±1.917, 1.866±1.332, respectively. Mean and standard deviation of vomiting in control group was 5.5338±1.801 and in intervention group was 2.6261±1.257. Mean and standard deviation of vomiting in control group was 5.200±1.919. There was a significant difference between the control and intervention groups (P = 0.042)

In the present study, it was found that in both intervention and control groups, before intervention, the highest frequency, intensity and duration of vomiting and nausea were observed. After reflexology massage, the nausea and vomiting status was significantly reduced in intervention group.