Effect of foot reflexology and slow stroke back massage on the severity of fatigue in patients undergoing hemodialysis: A semi-experimental study

Investigation of the Effect of Reiki on Pain, Fatigue, and Itching in Hemodialysis Patients: Randomized Controlled Trial

INTRODUCTION

The management of symptoms associated with hemodialysis, which adversely affect patients, increases their quality of life. Complementary integrative therapies such as Reiki are used in symptom management. This study aimed to investigate the effects of Reiki on pain, fatigue, and itching in hemodialysis patients.

METHODS

The study had a randomized controlled design and was conducted in three dialysis centers with a total of 74 hemodialysis patients, 37 in the intervention group, and 37 in the control group. A total of 10 sessions of Reiki were administered to the patients in the intervention group twice a week for 5 weeks, while the patients in the control group received routine hemodialysis treatment. The data of the study were collected using the Patient Identification Form, the Patient Clinical Parameters Form, the Visual Analog Scale, the McGill Pain Questionnaire, the Piper Fatigue Scale, and the 5-D Itch Scale.

FINDINGS

It was determined that there was a statistically significant decrease in the pain, fatigue, and itching levels of the patients in favor of the intervention group in the second and third measurements (p < 0.05). Although there was no change in the pain and fatigue levels of the patients in the control group, the levels of itching increased statistically and significantly (p < 0.05).

DISCUSSION

The findings suggest that Reiki has an effect on pain, fatigue, and itching in hemodialysis patients.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT05531175.

Insights into effective fatigue reducing interventions in kidney transplant candidates: a scoping review

BACKGROUND

Fatigue is a prevalent and debilitating symptom among kidney transplant candidates (KTCs), significantly affecting their quality of life and overall well-being. Its complexity necessitates a comprehensive approach to manage fatigue in this population.

PURPOSE

To explore the effectiveness of nonpharmacological interventions in reducing fatigue in KTCs.

METHODS

Nonpharmacological interventions targeting fatigue in participants aged ≥18 years, who were either on the kidney transplantation waitlist or eligible candidates, were considered. A database search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and Web of Science. Results were reported in accordance with the guidelines provided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses Protocols extension for Scoping Reviews Checklist.

RESULTS

In total, 67 studies were included. Interventions were divided into manipulative and body-based practices, exercise, mind-body therapies, energy healing, and combined interventions. Thirty-eight studies (76%) demonstrated a significant effect on fatigue, with effect sizes ranging from 0.43 to 4.85. Reflexology, massage therapy, progressive muscle relaxation, and acupressure combined with massage therapy showed the strongest significant intervention effects on fatigue and had the strongest study quality. However, the overall study quality was weak, particularly concerning confounding control, blinding procedures, and withdrawals and dropouts.

CONCLUSIONS

Manipulative and body-based interventions showed the strongest significant effects on fatigue with the highest study quality. These interventions underscore the multifactorial nature of fatigue by targeting both its physical and psychological dimensions. Future high-quality research is needed to determine the optimal strategy for managing fatigue in KTCs.

The Effect of Listening to the Holy Qur'an and a Back Massage on Fatigue and Quality of Life for Participants Undergoing Hemodialysis: A Quasi-Experimental Study

This study examined the effects of combining listening to the Holy Qur'an and back massage on fatigue and the quality of life in participants undergoing hemodialysis in Indonesia. This nonrandomized clinical trial was conducted in 40 patients (n = 20 intervention group, n = 20 control group). The FACIT-fatigue scale was used to measure fatigue, and the KDQOL scale was used to measure quality of life. After the intervention, the mean score on the FACIT-fatigue scale in the intervention group was 36.7 ± 2.1, whereas it was 23.4 ± 5.8 in the control group. Likewise, while the average KDQOL score was 61.2 ± 5.8 in the intervention group, it was 49.5 ± 8.6 in the control group. In the between-group comparisons, fatigue score was significantly lower in the intervention group compared to the control group (p < 0.05), and the between-group comparison also demonstrated a significant difference favoring the intervention group. We conclude that the combination of listening to the Holy Qur'an and back massage improve participant's fatigue and quality of life.

The effect of foot reflexology on fatigue in hemodialysis patients: a meta-analysis study

OBJECTIVE

this meta-analysis study analyzed the effect of foot reflexology on fatigue in hemodialysis patients by combining the results of independent studies on this subject.

METHOD

meta-analysis study. A literature search was conducted in seven databases. The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed using tools proposed by the Joanna Briggs Institute. Comprehensive Meta-Analysis v3 was used for meta-analysis.

RESULTS

eight studies were included in the meta-analysis. The result of the meta-analysis standardized mean difference = 1.580 (95% Confidence Interval = 1.075 - 2.085 p = 0.000). The result of the subgroup analysis performed based on the number of foot reflexology sessions standardized mean difference = 1,478 (95% Confidence Interval = 1,210 - 1,747, p = 0.000).

CONCLUSION

it was concluded that foot reflexology can be used to reduce fatigue in hemodialysis patients. No information was provided in the investigated studies about the possible side effects and negative effects of foot reflexology. (1) This study found that foot reflexology reduced fatigue levels. (2) The 10-session foot reflexology was the most effective. (3) This study will guide nurses and health workers. (4) Reflexology is one of the non-pharmacological methods used to relieve fatigue.

Aromatherapy Massage vs. Foot Reflexology on the Severity of Restless Legs Syndrome in Female Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis

This study aimed to compare the effects of reflexology and aromatherapy massage on the severity of restless legs syndrome (RLS) in 105 female patients undergoing hemodialysis. A randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted in a hemodialysis center with 48 beds in a high turnover hospital in an urban area of Iran. Intervention groups received reflexology (n = 35) and aromatherapy massage using lavender essential oil (n = 35) for 24 sessions, and the placebo group (n = 35) received simple foot massage. The restless legs syndrome rating scale was used to assess RLS severity in the groups before the intervention and after 4 and 8 weeks of the interventions. Results obtained by the mixed model analysis 3 * 3 (3 groups * 3 times) revealed the significant effect of time, group, and the time-group interrelationship (p = 0.001). Aromatherapy massage reduced the RLS severity, but reflexology did not appear to cause any significant reduction in it. Therefore, we suggest that aromatherapy massage be incorporated into routine care for relieving the ailment and suffering of patients undergoing hemodialysis.

Comparison the effects of inhalation and massage aromatherapy with lavender and sweet orange on fatigue in hemodialysis patients: a randomized clinical trial

OBJECTIVES

Fatigue, regardless of the causes, could leave a negative impact on individual performance. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of inhalation and massage aromatherapy with lavender and sweet orange on fatigue among hemodialysis patients.

METHODS

This study was a randomized controlled trial. The patients (96 patients) were allocated to three groups (control, an inhalation aromatherapy, and an aromatherapy massage group). A demographic questionnaire as well as the rhoten fatigue scale (RFS) was used to collect the data. The data were analyzed by descriptive and analytical statistics using SPSS version 18.

RESULTS

Before the intervention, there was no significant difference among the groups regarding fatigue level (p=0.54). However, eight and 16 weeks after the study, the levels of fatigue in both experimental groups were significantly lower than the control group (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Interventions with essential oils are effective in reducing fatigue in hemodialysis patients, although the effects of aromatherapy massage on fatigue are stronger than the effects of inhalation aromatherapy.

The effects of omega-3 on the sleep quality of patients with uremic pruritus undergoing hemodialysis: a randomized crossover study

OBJECTIVES

Information on sleep quality and its effective factors in the patients undergoing hemodialysis are important factors in future planning for improving sleep quality and ultimately the quality of life in these patients. The present study investigated the effect of omega-3 on the sleep quality of hemodialysis patients.

METHODS

The 52 hemodialysis patients were randomized into two groups and underwent two different treatment modes (A and B). The first group was given omega-3 and cetirizine and the second group only received cetirizine for six weeks. After one week wash out, the study was followed by crossover treatment in both groups for six weeks. Sleep quality and pruritus severity were evaluated in patients before the intervention and at the end of each treatment period using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and the Yosipovitch Itch Questionnaire. The collected data was analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA and the Pearson correlation coefficient.

RESULTS

The results of the study showed that majority of the patients (94.2%) had poor sleep quality (sleep score > 5 based on the questionnaire) and 5.8% of the patients had favorable sleep quality (sleep score < 5). Repeated measures ANOVA showed that sleep quality scores were different in two groups in phases 0, I and II (p <0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Sleep quality improved in both modes but more improvement was observed in mode A. Therefore, omega-3 fatty acids can be used as a suitable method for improving sleep quality in hemodialysis patients.

Risk factors associated with fatigue in chronic hepatitis B patients

AIM

To evaluate fatigue in chronic hepatitis B patients and its related independent factors, as well as the relationship between fatigue and health-related quality of life (HRQoL).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study enrolled 400 patients who met the selection criteria, and their sociodemographic information was collected. The 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) and Multidimensional fatigue inventory 20 (MFI-20) were adopted to evaluate HRQoL and fatigue level.

RESULTS

Significant differences between the fatigue group and non-fatigue group were observed for the female proportion (p=0.021), height (p=0.003), and weight (p=0.010), with or without regular exercise (p=0.001). We further determined the dimensions of fatigue that were affected by these factors and found that male patients showed significantly lower results than female patients in terms of physical fatigue (p=0.048), mental fatigue (p=0.017), and reduced motivation (p=0.025). In patients who exercised regularly, the fatigue scores for the three dimensions of general fatigue (p<0.001), physical fatigue (p=0.046), and reduced activity (p=0.008) were significantly better than in those without exercise habits. Multivariate analysis was conducted, which suggested that only height and regular exercise habits were the independent factors affecting the patients' fatigue levels. We further analyzed the relationship between quality of life and fatigue. With respect to physiological HRQoL, the average fatigue score of patients with high HRQoL was 41.91, which was significantly lower than that of patients with low physiological HRQoL (56.18, p<0.001). Moreover, the average fatigue score in patients with low psychological HRQoL was 55.25, which was significantly higher than that of patients with high psychological HRQoL (41.23, p<0.001). Correlation analysis showed that the physiological HRQoL and psychological HRQoL scores were negatively correlated with fatigue score (r = -0.639, p<0.001 and r= -0.655, p<0.001, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, we found that the fatigue dimensions of chronic hepatitis B patients differed between various subpopulations. Height and regular exercise habits were the independent factors that affected the patients' fatigue levels. Moreover, HRQoL was correlated with fatigue level. For patients with risk factors of fatigue, target intervention is advised in order to decrease fatigue and increase HRQoL.