Comparison of the Effect of Foot and Palm Reflexology Massage on Respiratory Distress Syndrome in Premature Infants under Noninvasive Ventilation

Abstract

Introduction: Respiratory distress is one of the life-threatening conditions in preterm infants. Sensory deprivation in preterm infants hospitalized in the intensive care units affects their physiological and psychological development. Therefore, this study is an attempt to compare the effects of foot and palm reflexology on respiratory distress in infants subjected to noninvasive ventilation. Methods: In this clinical study, 150 infants hospitalized at Fatemieh Hospital in Hamadan were randomly assigned to 3 groups. In the intervention groups, the reflexology massage to foot and palm was performed for 10 min within 3 days in 6 rounds. In the control group, leg warming was performed. In each group, the personal information checklist, the respiratory distress score, oxygen saturation percentage, and respiratory rate before and after the daily intervention were examined. Data analysis was performed using the standard statistical tests in SPSS. Results: The results mirrored the statistically significant difference between the intervention and control groups 3 days into the intervention with regard to the average oxygen saturation percentage, respiratory rate, and the respiratory distress score (p < 0.05). When eliminating the effect of confounding variables, therapeutic intervention applied to palm compared to foot had a greater effect on reducing respiratory distress score in the studied infants. Conclusion: The reflexology massage method, especially palm reflexology massage, contributes to the mitigation of respiratory distress in preterm infants subjected to noninvasive ventilation. Hence, this low-cost and efficient intervention program can be recommended as a complementary method for preterm infants with respiratory distress.