Journal of Education and Health Promotion

The effect of complementary medicine on maternal health promotion: An experimental study

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

. Leili Hafizi
. Nastaran Razmjoo 1
. Fatemeh Yousefi 2
. Hoda Azizi 3

1 Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

2 Department of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Dezful University of Medical Sciences, Dezful, Iran,

3 Department of Chinese and Complementary Medicine, School of Persian and Complementary Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

Abstract
BACKGROUND: During the immediate post delivery period, women are particularly susceptible
to distension of the bladder. Complementary and alternative medicine is becoming an established
intervention modality within the contemporary health care system. However, very little is known
about the impact of foot reflexology on the urinary system. The aim of this study was to evaluate the
effect of the most popular type of complementary therapy (the foot reflexology) on first voiding time
following elective cesarean section without urinary catheter.
METHODS: This experimental study was performed on 61 pregnant women in Pastor Hospital,
Mashhad, Iran, who met the inclusion criteria. Accordingly, participants were randomly allotted to
either treatment or control groups. The intervention group received a single 20‑min foot reflexology
session at 2–3 h after the surgery. The time taken for first void was recorded by research assistant
that blinded to the allocation of groups. The findings were recorded and analyzed with the SPSS
software by using of Chi‑square, independent t‑test, Mann–Whitney, and Fisher exact methods
P < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant.
RESULTS: Using General Linear Model (GLM) for controlling of confounding variables, the results
of t‑test showed significant differences between two groups in terms of first voiding time (P = 0.001)
following surgery.
CONCLUSION: It seems that the use of foot reflexology as a nursing care plan to prevent urinary
retention after cesarean section without urinary catheter does shorten first voiding time and increase
maternal satisfaction.

Keywords

Complementary medicine
experimental study
women’s health
  1. Mulder FE, Rengerink KO, van der Post JA, Hakvoort RA,
    Roovers JP. Delivery‑related risk factors for covert postpartum
    urinary retention after vaginal delivery. Int Urogynecol J
    2016;27:55‑60.
    2. Malinowski J. Bladder assessment in the postpartum patient.
    JOGN Nurs 1978; 7:14‑6.
    3. Hershberger JM, Milad MP. A randomized clinical trial of
    lorazepam for the reduction of postoperative urinary retention.
    Obstet Gynecol 2003;102:311‑6.
    4. Onile TG, Kuti O, Orji EO, Ogunniyi SO. A prospective
    randomized clinical trial of urethral catheter removal following
    elective cesarean delivery. Int J Gynaecol Obstet 2008;102:267‑70.
    5. Azami‑Aghdash S, Ghojazadeh M, Dehdilani N, Mohammadi M,
    Asl Amin Abad R. Prevalence and causes of cesarean section in
    Iran: Systematic review and meta‑analysis. Iran J Public Health
    2014;43:545‑55.
    6. Liang CC, Chang SD, Chang YL, Chen SH, Chueh HY, Cheng PJ.
    Postpartum urinary retention after cesarean delivery. Int J
    Gynaecol Obstet 2007;99:229‑32.
    7. Foon R, Toozs‑Hobson P, Millns P, Kilby M. The impact of
    anesthesia and mode of delivery on the urinary bladder in the
    postdelivery period. Int J Gynaecol Obstet 2010;110:114‑7.
    8. Nasr AM, ElBigawy AF, Abdelamid AE, Al‑Khulaidi S,
    Al‑Inany HG, Sayed EH. Evaluation of the use vs. nonuse of
    urinary catheterization during cesarean delivery: A prospective,
    multicenter, randomized controlled trial. J Perinatol
    2009;29:416‑21.
    9. Pietropaoli MP, Damron TA, Vermont AI. Bone metastases from
    squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. J Surg Oncol
    2000;75:136‑41.
    10. Sultana S, Rather SY, Rehman I. Merits and Demerits of Using
    Indwelling Catheter in Lower Segment Caesarean Section. Int J
    Cur Res Rev 2020;12:10.
    11. Karatas N, Dalgic AI. Effects of reflexology on child health:
    A systematic review. Complement Ther Med 2020;50:102364.
    12. McVicar AJ, Greenwood CR, Fewell F, D’Arcy V,
    Chandrasekharan S, Alldridge LC. Evaluation of anxiety, salivary
    cortisol and melatonin secretion following reflexology treatment:
    A pilot study in healthy individuals. Complement Ther Clin Pract
    2007;13:137‑45.
    13. Khosravan SH, Shojaei M, Basiri Moghadam M, Mojtabavi SJ.
    Effect of feet reflexology massage on urinary retention relieving
    after surgery. Q Horizon Med Sci 2015;20:215‑21.
    14. Woodward S, Norton C, Barriball KL. A pilot study of the
    effectiveness of reflexology in treating idiopathic constipation in
    women. Complement Ther Clin Pract 2010;16:41‑6.
    15. Skouteris H, Wertheim EH, Rallis S, Paxton SJ, Kelly L, Milgrom J.
    Use of complementary and alternative medicines by a sample of
    Australian women during pregnancy. Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol
    2008;48:384‑90.
    16. Siev‑Ner I, Gamus D, Lerner‑Geva L, Achiron A. Reflexology
    treatment relieves symptoms of multiple sclerosis: A randomized
    controlled study. Mult Scler 2003;9:356‑61.
    17. Mak HL, Cheon WC, Wong T, Liu YS, Tong WM. Randomized
    controlled trial of foot reflexology for patients with symptomatic
    idiopathic detrusor overactivity. Int Urogynecol J Pelvic Floor
    Dysfunct 2007;18:653‑8.
    18. Sudmeier I, Bodner G, Egger I, Mur E, Ulmer H, Herold M.
    Changes of renal blood flow during organ‑associated foot
    reflexology measured by color Doppler sonography. Forsch
    Komplementarmed 1999;6:129‑34.
    19. Baldini G, Bagry H, Aprikian A, Carli F. Postoperative urinary
    retention: Anesthetic and perioperative considerations.
    Anesthesiology 2009;110:1139‑57.
    20. Kesselring A, Spichiger E, Müller M. Foot reflexology: An
    intervention study. Pflege 1998;11:213‑8.
    21. Evan M. reflex zone therapy for mother. Nurs Times 1990;86:29‑31.
    22. Ernst E. Is reflexology an effective intervention? A systematic
    review of randomized controlled trials. Med J Aust 2009;191:263‑6.
    23. Ghoreishi J. Indwelling urinary catheters in cesarean delivery.
    Int J Gynaecol Obstet 2003;83:267‑70.
  2. 24. Chai AH, Wong T, Mak HL, Cheon C, Yip SK, Wong AS.
    Prevalence and associated risk factors of retention of urine
    after caesarean section. Int Urogynecol J Pelvic Floor Dysfunct
    2008;19:537‑42.
    25. Senanayake H. Elective cesarean section without urethral
    catheterization. J Obstet Gynaecol Res 2005;31:32‑7.
    26. Howangsuwannakorn S. Effects of Foot Reflexology on
    Pain Level, Vital Signs, and Satisfaction in Post‑abdominal
    Surgical Patients. [Electronic Thesis]. Mahidol University,
    Thailand; 2003.
Journal of Education and Health Promotion
Volume 11, Issue 1
January 2021
Pages 1-7

Home

Guide for Authors

Submit Manuscript

Reviewers

Contact Us