The effect of foot reflexology on fatigue in hemodialysis patients: a meta-analysis study.
Seda Şahan, Sevil Güler
PMID 37820220WHAT IT FOUND
Foot reflexology added to usual care reduced fatigue in hemodialysis patients. 10 sessions appeared most effective, but the evidence came from small studies with inconsistent results.
Key findings
01Foot reflexology reduced fatigue in hemodialysis patients, with a mean effect size of 1.580 (95% CI 1.075 to 2.085; p <0.001).
02High heterogeneity was present (I2 = 86.67), so a random-effects model was used.
03Subgroup analysis found a significant difference by number of sessions (p <0.001), with 10 sessions ranked most effective.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
Only 8 studies were included, and the paper describes the sample groups as small (n<50). Six of the 8 studies were quasi-experimental, not randomized. Blinding and randomization were not specified in the two randomized controlled trials. Heterogeneity was high and remained after sensitivity analyses. Different fatigue scales were used across studies. The studies did not report possible side effects or adverse effects of foot reflexology. The 10-session finding came from subgroup analysis, not the main pooled comparison.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that foot reflexology is proven safe or that 10 sessions is the best dose. The studies did not report side effects, the evidence was small and highly heterogeneous, and the 10-session result came from subgroup analysis.