The Effects of Self-Administered Hand Reflexology on Fatigue in Student Nurses in Clinical Practice

Oh, Sei Young; Lim, Nan Young

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study was to identify the effects of self-administered hand reflexology on level of fatigue in college student nurses during clinical practice. METHOD: A non-equivalent control group, quasi-experimental research with pre and post-test design was used. Forty-seven student nurses in clinical practice were assigned to either an experimental or control group. The experimental group performed self-hand reflexology for 10 minutes once a day during the 5 days of clinical practice. RESULTS: 1. While there was a significant difference in degree of fatigue and fatigue scores in the experimental group over time, there was no significant difference between the two groups. 2. Vigor score for the experimental group was significantly higher than those of the control group during the 5 days except for day 5, but there was no significant difference between the two groups. 3. Levels of fatigue for the experimental group increased after 1 hour in the 1st post time, but there was no significant difference between the groups. CONCLUSION: Self-administered hand reflexology was not found to be an effective method for relieving fatigue for student nurses in clinical practice. Also physiological effects were not identified in this study, and so further research is needed.