Effect of Reflexology on Pain and Quality of Life in a Patient with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) face considerable physical, social and emotional disabilities. In this chronic disease, for which a cure is not yet available, improving patients' health, quality of life and reduce pain is of the utmost concern. The purpose of this work was to measure the effect reflexology has on pain and quality of life (QOL) in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis. Using an 8-week course of reflexology treatments were given to a patient who has RA. A quasi experimental research design was used with 2-month follow-up. The study was conducted in the outpatient clinic of the RA Departments at Zagazig University Hospitals. On 39 female adult patients diagnosed as having RA without deformity of bones or destruction of joints. The exclusion criterion was the presence of any other chronic illness that may affect patient's QOL as diabetes, ischemic heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and stroke. Perceived pain and QOL were assessed using three validated outcome measures: Bio-socio-demographic and disease (RA) characteristics, the Rheumatoid Arthritis Quality of Life (RAQOL) questionnaire, the Pain Assessment Questionnaire (Numerical Rating Scale) and Health assessment questionnaire (HAQ). The study results revealed that, improvements in patients' QOL, pain and health status at the post-intervention phase and at the follow-up phase. Satisfaction QOL scores had moderate statistically significant negative correlations with the duration of illness throughout the study phases, while the scores of the importance of QOL had weak to moderate statistically significant negative correlations with age and duration of illness. On the other hand, the poor health status scores had moderate statistically significant positive correlations with age and duration of illness throughout the study phases, while pain had no correlation with either of them. The study concludes that hands and feet reflexology applied to rheumatoid arthritis patients is effective in reducing their pain, improving their QOL and their total health status, and these positive impacts are not affected by patient's age and duration of illness. Therefore, reflexology must be considered as a complementary treatment modality in rheumatoid arthritis. It should be introduced to nursing and medical students, and in postgraduate staff development programs. Further research is recommended for the long-term effects of this treatment modality in terms of pain and disablement. Research may also extend to assess the effectiveness of as a useful modality in geriatric care and for patients with other chronic conditions. {[}Nadia Mohamed Taha and Zeinab Hussain Ali. Effect of Reflexology on Pain and Quality of Life in a Patient with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Life Science Journal. 2011;8(2):357-365] (ISSN:1097-8135). http://www.lifesciencesite.com.