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BACKGROUND: Multiple sclerosis (MS) occurs with a variety of physical and psychological symptoms, yet there is not a conclusive cure for this disease. Complementary medicine is a current treatment which seems is effective in relieving symptoms of patients with MS. Therefore, this study is aimed to determine and compare the effects of reflexology and relaxation on anxiety, stress, and depression in women with MS. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This study is a randomized clinical trial that is done on 75 women with MS referred to MS Clinic of Kashani Hospital. After simple non random sampling, participants were randomly assigned by minimization method to three groups: reflexology, relaxation and control (25 patients in each group). In the experimental groups were performed reflexology and relaxation interventions within 4 weeks, twice a week for 40 min and the control group were received only routine treatment as directed by a doctor. Data were collected through depression anxiety and stress scale questionnaire, before, immediately after and 2 months after interventions in all three groups. Chi-square, Kruskal-Wallis, repeated measures analysis of variance and one-way analysis of variance and least significant difference post hoc test via SPSS version 18 were used to analyze the data (P < 0.05) was considered as significant level. RESULTS: The results showed a significant reduction in the severity of anxiety, stress and depression during the different times in the reflexology and relaxation groups as compared with the control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The results showed that reflexology and relaxation in relieving anxiety, stress and depression are effective in women with MS. Hence, these two methods, as effective techniques, can be recommended.
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Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of auriculotherapy on labor pain, the length of the active phase, and episiotomy rate among reproductive aged Iranian women. Materials and methods: In this study, 80 women were assigned to two groups: auriculotherapy (n = 40) and control group (n = 40). Auriculotherapy was performed in the earlobe in the Zero, Shen Men, Uterus, Pelvic, Abdomen, Spleen, External genitalia, and Master cerebral regions in the cervix dilation of 4, 6, and 8 cm between uterine contractions. The control group received routine hospital care. The labor pain, duration of the active phase, and rate of episiotomy were assessed in two groups. The independent t- test and chi-square were used for statistical purposes. Results: The mean of labor pain during the active phase was 7.56 ± 0.83 in the auriculotherapy group and 8.43 ± 0.69 in the control group (p < 0.001). The length of active phase was significantly lower in the auriculotherapy than that in the control group (176.2 ± 1 min vs. 342.8±87.2 min, p < 0.001). The rate of normal vaginal delivery (without an episiotomy or perineal tears) was significantly higher in the auriculotherapy group than that in the control group (50% vs. 2.5%, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Auriculotherapy is safe, cost effective and devoid of side effects to reduce the labour pain, length of the active phase and the rate of episiotomy in nulliparous women. This method can be considered as a complementary medicine in labour.
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BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is one of the most frequent malignancies among Iranian women. These patients suffer from a wide range of physical and mental (depression, anxiety and stress) signs and symptoms during the diagnostic and therapeutic processes. Despite the improvement in survival rates due to advances in medical care, different types of psychosocial interventions are still growingly needed considering the increasing number of cancer patients with longer survival times. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of relaxation on depression, anxiety and stress in women who underwent mastectomy for breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This clinical trial was conducted during about 4.5 months in a referral chemotherapy clinic of a teaching hospital in Isfahan, Iran. The participants consisted of 48 breast cancer patients who were selected by simple random sampling. They were randomly assigned into two groups of control and case. The control group was treated only by usual medical therapy, whereas the case group was treated by combined medical-relaxation therapy. Data collection tools were the validated Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS42) and a demographic questionnaire. Data were analyzed by SPSS using descriptive statistics, repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA), chi-square test and paired t-test.. FINDINGS: The baseline mean scores of depression, anxiety and stress were not significantly different between the case and control groups. However, the scores in the case group improved significantly after the treatment (p < 0.05). On the contrary, such improvement was not seen in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Relaxation therapy can be effective in the improvement of depression, anxiety and stress. Therefore, it can be recommended as an effective care program in patients with malignant disorders.
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BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular diseases have the highest death rates in human society. Coronary artery disease is among the most important of these diseases. No treatment of cardiovascular disease has as much impact on the quality of life of the patients as the heart surgery. The recovery from heart surgery is associated with symptoms of pain and psychological distress. In the early recovery period, the patients will face moderate symptoms of anxiety and depression. In this regard, various measures of nursing, as complementary therapy practices have been performed to help the patients for overcoming the physical and psychological needs. One of these methods, in recent years has been the use of complementary and alternative therapies, particularly massage therapy, after heart surgery. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of massage therapy on the mood of patients after open-heart surgery in Isfahan Chamran Hospital during 2010-11. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study 72 patients, who underwent coronary artery bypass surgery, were selected. They were randomly assigned to the two case and control groups. The patients of the case group (n = 36) received Swedish massage for 20 minutes in 4 sessions in 4 consecutive days, 3 to 6 days after the open-heart surgery. The patients in the control group received only the routine care. The mood questionnaire (POMS) which was used in this study has been completed the day before the start of the study and intervention and again after the last day of the intervention. SPSS software version 12 and descriptive and inferential statistical methods were used for data analysis. FINDINGS: The comparison of study results showed that massage decreased the overall rating of the patients' mood after the surgery. CONCLUSIONS: The use of massage therapy as an effective nursing intervention can improve the patients' mood after open-heart surgery. Due to the low cost and simplicity of this method, it can perhaps be used as a complement to drug therapy and postoperative interventions used in these patients.
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BACKGROUND: Medical operation is an anxious factor that causes physiological reactions in body which consequently increases respiratory rate, heart rate and blood pressure. The aim of this study is assessing the effect of reflexotherapy on vital signs of patients before coronary artery bypass surgery in Shahid Chamran hospital of Isfahan. METHODS: Fifty volunteer patients candidated for coronary artery bypass surgery were enrolled in this clinical trial. They were divided in two (control and treatment) groups. Vital signs were measured pre and post 30 minutes reflexotherapy in treatment group. Vital signs were also measured in patients in control group at the same condition of the treatment group, but reflexotherapy was not performed. RESULTS: The mean differences of vital signs was not significant in control and treatment groups at the baseline. But post reflexotherapy intervention, systolic and diastolic blood pressure lowered significantly in the treatment group in comparison with control group (p < 0.05). No significant changes were observed for other vital sign. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the study shows that reflexotherapy is a safe, effective, cheep nursing intervention in reducing systolic and diastolic blood pressure of patients before coronary artery bypass surgery.
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BACKGROUND: Pruritus is one of the commonest problems in patients with end-stage renal failure undergoing hemodialysis. Pruritus is an irritating symptom which can directly affect the life quality of patients with chronic renal failure. However, available treatments have failed to relieve the symptom and kidney transplant remains the definite treatment of the problem. A recently proposed treatment for pruritus is the use of complementary medicine. Thus, the aim of this research is to study the effect of aromatherapy on pruritus relief in hemodialysis patients. METHODS: The study is a pre- and post-clinical trial, carried out in dialysis centers of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences in 2009. Sample was performed using convenient sampling method and the participants were selected from among the patient who received hemodialysis three times a week for 3-5 hours and had pruritus scores above 3. All the participants received seven minutes of hand massage in the non-fistulated hand with 3-5 ml of lavender, mint, and tea tree oils at 5% concentration for six sessions (two weeks). The data of the study were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics by SPSS software, version 16. RESULTS: Twenty patients with end-stage renal failure who had pruritus fulfilled the course of the study. Data analysis indicated that aromatherapy significantly relieved pruritus (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Aromatherapy can significantly relieve pruritus in hemodialysis patients.
