The effects of foot reflexology and foot massage on fatigue and its impacts in female nurses: A randomized controlled trial

Background: Fatigue is a significant factor that affects nurses and the quality of care they provide. Objectives: This study aimed to compare the effects of foot reflexology (FR) and foot massage (FM) on fatigue and its impacts in female nurses. Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 60 nurses who were randomly assigned to two groups of 30 to receive either FR or FM, in Buali Hospital (Sari-Iran), from January 2022 to July 2023. Nurses received FR or FM for 10 minutes once a day for three consecutive days. Fatigue and its impacts were assessed before, immediately after, and one week following the intervention. Data were collected using the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), the Chalder Fatigue Scale (CFS), and the Fatigue Impact Scale (FIS). Results: The mean baseline fatigue scores in the FR and FM groups were 23.33 +/- 9.69 and 22.07 +/- 6.51, respectively (P=0.65). Both groups showed a significant decrease in fatigue scores immediately and one-week post-intervention, with the FM group exhibiting a significantly smaller decrease (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the mean baseline FIS scores between the two groups (P=0.91), but both groups showed a significant decrease in FIS scores over time. The GEE model indicated a significant reduction in CFS and FIS scores over time in both groups (P<0.001). Conclusion: Foot reflexology and foot massage were effective in reducing fatigue and its impacts in nurses. Nurses can choose either of these methods based on their preferences and conditions to alleviate fatigue and its effects.