The Effect of Reflexology on Quality of Life in Colorectal Cancer Patients Suffering Chemotherapy-induced Neuropathy: A Randomized and Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVE There is rare evidence of the effects of foot reflexology on quality of life (QoL) in patients with chemotherapy-induced neurotoxicity, this study aimed to determine the effects of foot reflexology on the QoL in colorectal cancer patients receiving neurotoxic chemotherapy.METHODS Eighty patients with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy Grade II-IV were randomly divided into two experimental and control groups (40 patients in each group). The experimental group participated in four reflexology sessions for 20 min once a week and the control group received only routine care and medical treatment as directed by a doctor. Data were collected using the sociodemographic characteristics form, EORTC QLQ-C30, and EORTC QLQ-CIPN20. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 25 using descriptive and inferential statistical methods.RESULTS A comparison of the difference between the mean total score of QoL before and after 4 weeks' reflexology sessions between the experimental and control groups revealed a significant statistical difference (p<0.05). The mean total score of QoL 4 weeks after the intervention was higher in the experimental group (48.3 +/- 19.5) than in the control group (26.2 +/- 15.2). With reflexology sessions, improvement of sensory (p=0.01), motor (p=0.031), and autonomic (p=0.034) function were more prominent in the experimental group.CONCLUSION The result of this study showed that foot reflexology relieved neurotoxicity associated with chemotherapy which improved the QoL in colorectal cancer patients. Hence, this low cost and easy procedure can be recommended as an effective technique.