The Effect of Self-foot Reflexology on the Situation Score of Urinary Incontinence, Self-esteem and Depression of the Middle-aged Women

자가 발반사요법이 요실금 여성의 증상과 자존감 및 우울에 미치는 영향

Purpose: This study was to identify the effects of self-foot reflexology on the situation score of Urinary incontinence, Self esteem and Depression of the middle-aged women. Method: A quasi-experimental design was used. The subject were 39 middle-aged women with urinary incontinence(18 experimental group, 21 control group). In the experimental group, self-foot reflexology was applied for 30 minutes, three times a week for 4 weeks. The obtained data were analyzed by using the Mann-Whitney U test of SPSS. Result: 1. The situation score of urinary incontinence were reduced significantly in the experimental group as compared to the control group(U=81.00, P=.002). 2. Self esteem were improved significantly in the experimental group as compared to the control group(U=59.00, p=.000). 3. Depression in the experimental group was reduced whereas that of the control group was increased significantly(U=45.00, p=.000). Conclusion: These findings indicate that self-foot reflexology is an effective method for reducing urinary incontinence and depression, and improving self esteem of middle-aged women. Therefore self-foot reflexology can be considered as a independent nursing intervention for urinary incontinence.