Effectiveness of foot Reflexology on Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathic Pain among Patients with Diabetes

 

Ms. Sinam Ranjana Devi¹, Mr. B. Venkatesan²

¹Lecturer, Institute of Nursing Sciences, Tripura

²Associate Professor cum HOD Medical Surgical Nursing, Padmashree Institute of Nursing, Bangalore also

PhD Scholar in Sri Ramachanrda University

 

ABSTRACT:

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy refers to a condition where the sensitivity of nerves to pain, temperature, and pressure is dulled, particularly in the legs and feet. The presence of peripheral neuropathic pain makes the patient’s medical care more complicated and reduces the patient’s quality of care. The study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of foot reflexology on diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain among patients with diabetes. True experimental pre test post test design was adopted to conduct the present study among 60 diabetes patients with peripheral neuropathic pain selected using Simple random sampling technique at Bangalore Diabetes Hospital, Bangalore. Douleur Neuropathique 4 scale Assessment Tool was used to collect the data. The results revealed that the foot reflexology is effective on peripheral neuropathic pain among diabetes patients.

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION:

Diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic diseases characterized by high blood sugar (glucose) levels that result from defects in insulin secretion, or its action, or both. The prevalence of diabetes for all the age groups worldwide was estimated to be 2.8% in 2000 and 4.4% in 2030. The total number of people with diabetes is projected to rise from 171 million in 2000 to 366 million in 2030. There are two types of diabetes mellitus, Type 1 DM results from the body's failure to produce insulin, and currently requires the person to inject insulin or wear an insulin pump.

 

This form is referred to as "insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus" (IDDM) or juvenile diabetes. Type 2 DM results from insulin resistance, a condition in which cells fail to use insulin properly, sometimes combined with an absolute insulin deficiency. This form is referred to as non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) or adult-onset diabetes.

 

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM:

A study to assess the effectiveness of foot reflexology on diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain among patients with diabetes in selected hospital, Bangalore.

 

OBJECTIVES:

1.   To assess the pretest level of peripheral neuropathic pain among patients with diabetes in both experimental and control group.

2.   To assess the posttest level of peripheral neuropathic pain among patients with diabetes in both experimental and control group.

3.   To compare the pretest and posttest level of peripheral neuropathic pain among patients with diabetes, in both experimental and control group.

4.   To compare the pretest and posttest level of peripheral neuropathic pain among patients with diabetes, between experimental and control group.

5.   To associate the pretest level of peripheral neuropathic pain among patients with diabetes with their demographic variables in experimental and control group.

 

 

 

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY:

Randomized control study was used to conduct the study. The study setting is Bangalore Diabetes Hospital, Vasanthnagar, Bangalore. Simple random sampling was used to select 60 diabetes patients (30 of each in experimental and control group) with peripheral neuropathic pain.  The tool used in this study consists of two sections: Section A consists of demographic variables. Section B is Douleur Neuropathique 4 scale used for assessing level of peripheral neuropathic pain before and after foot reflexology. Interpretation of the tool was in this way: 0 = No pain, 1-3 = Mild pain, 4-6 = Moderate pain, 7-8 = Severe pain, 9-10 = Very severe pain.

 

Table 1: Range, mean and SD of pre test and post test level of peripheral neuropathic pain in both experimental and control group. N= 60

No.	Groups	Pre test			Post test				‘t’ value		P value
		Range	Mean	SD	Mean%	Range	Mean	SD	Mean %
1.	Experimental group (n=30)	5-9	6.67	1.06	66.7	1-2	1.37	0.49	13.7	4.85* S	P<0.05
2.	Control group (n=30)	5-8	6.17	0.91	61.7	5-8	5.90	0.80	59.0	1.84 NS	P>0.05

 

For the experimental group the pretest mean was 6.67 with SD of 1.06 and the post test mean was 1.37 with SD of 0.49 and the t-value was 4.85. For the control group the pre test mean was 6.17 with SD of 0.91 and post test mean was 5.90 with SD of 0.80 and t-value was 1.84. The experimental group were shown the significance at 5% level i.e. p<0.05. The reduction level of peripheral neuropathic pain was comparably more among the patients with diabetes treated with foot reflexology than who were not been treated.

 

CONCLUSION:

The present study assessed the effectiveness of foot reflexology on peripheral neuropathic pain. The intervention method was used i.e. foot reflexology reduced the level of peripheral neuropathic pain of diabetes patients. The patients have expressed that their pain has been somewhat reduced. Significant level of learning took place among subjects regarding the benefits of foot reflexology and precaution to be taken during the intervention. The study found that in experimental group, at initial assessment, 14(46.7%) had moderate pain, 15(50.0%) had severe pain and 1(3.3%) had very severe pain. After intervention, 30(100%) of diabetes patients had mild pain. In control group, at initial assessment, 21(70%) of the diabetes patients had moderate pain and 9(30%) had severe pain. On second observation 24(80%) of the diabetes patients had reported moderate pain and 6(20%) had severe pain. Hence, the foot reflexology is found to be effective and it can be used in the hospitals among patients with diabetes, to reduced peripheral neuropathic pain.

 

 

REFEREMCES:

1         Lewis, Heitkemper, Dricksen Brien, Bucher. Medical Surgical Nursing: Nursing management of diabetes mellitus, New Delhi: Elsevier Mosby; 2007.P. 127172.

2         Park k. Preventive and social medicine: Epidemiology of chronic noncommunicable disease and condition. Jabalipur: Banarsidas bhanot; 2000. P 292

3         Diabetes mellitus Available from:http://en.wikipedia. Org/wiki/Diabetes_mellitus.

4         Complications of diabetes mellitus. Available from:

5         http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Complications_of_ diabetes mellitus.

6         John.G Fleischli, Terese J Laughlin. Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy.America;bn2007.Availablefromhttp:/wadepage.ogr/files/file/REDUCIN%20RISKS/Periphera l%2Neuropathy.pdf.

7         Peripheral neuropathy. Available from:http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peripheral_neuropathy.

8         Solomon Tesfaye. Advanced Studies in Medicine. Epidemiology and etiology of

9         Diabetic peripheral neuropathies. December 2004; Vol 4: 10(G). 

10      Indus Health plus. Karnataka-HealthStatistics. Availablefrom: http://www.indushealth.com/Karnataka-health-statistics.

 

 

 

 

Received on 11.07.2017          Modified on 19.09.2017

Accepted on 12.12.2017       ©A&V Publications All right reserved