The effect of foot reflexology massage on the level of pain during chest tube removal after open heart surgery

pain due to the removal of the chest tube is one of the important complications after open heart surgery. In the case of inadequate pain management، sympathetic system is stimulated and can lead to irreversible complications. Studies showed the effect of reflexology massage on pain relief in other cases; so this study had been done with the aim of “determining the effect of foot reflexology on the pain of the patients under open heart surgery during chest tube removal.” this randomized clinical study with control group was done in the hospitals covered by Baqiatallah Medical Sciences University in 2013. Ninety samples were divided into three experimental، control and placebo-treated groups based on randomized allocation. Pain level was measured through Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) in all the three groups before intervention. In the experimental group center of the anterior one-third and in the placebo-treated group، Posterior one-third of the left foot was being massaged for ten minutes before chest tube removal. There was no measurement in the control group. After removal of the chest tube، the level of the pain was measured and documented immediately. Data were analyzed by SPSS 18 software by the help of descriptive and inferential statistic. difference in the average of the quantitative variables including; age، height، weight and level of the body and demographic qualitative variables of the patients including; education status، occupation and marital status was not significant (P>0. 05). Expected increasing of the pain due to the chest pain tube removal was not significant in the experimental group (P=0. 08)، while placebo-treated and control groups had significant increase of the pain (P=0. 001 and P=0. 000 respectively). foot reflexology massage is a useful nursing intervention in chest tube removal after open heart surgery. This intervention improves care level of the patients in the important recovery phase after open heart surgery with the least cost and without any complications.