Identifier: TFM:524
Authors: Pallares Carbo, Vanessa
Abstract:
Introduction: Ageing implies an increase of dementia cases. Dementia is characterized by psychological and behavioral alterations. Manual therapies help decreasing these alterations and foot reflexology is one of these therapies. Objective: To know foot reflexology effects on agitation and other behavioral alterations in patients older than 65 years with mild dementia impairment from an elderly and adult daycare center. Methods: the approach was a randomized and controlled pilot intervention study. It was developed in the nursing home from el Perelló with 20 patients, considering residents and daily dementia users. The intervention group received 10 foot reflexology sessions, each one 10 minutes long. The control group received its regular treatment. Evaluation was done applying the Spanish adaptation of the Neuropsychiatric Inventory. A t- student test was performed when comparing continuous variables before-after between the intervention group and the control group. For categorical variables Mcnemar test was used. Results: The intervention group significant improved the agitation variable (before 8,20 (±3,45); after 4,60 (±2,72)) after receiving the intervention compared to the control group (before 5,70 (±3,37); after 5,88 (±3,29)) (p<0,001). The rest of the variables did not change compared to the control group after applying the intervention. Nevertheless, the intervention grouped improved both delusional ideas and irritability. Alterations that mostly prevail were agitation, anxiety and delusional ideas. Conclusions: Foot reflexology is effective for reducing agitation and other behavioral alterations, like irritability and delusional ideas, in people with dementia. This was well tolerated by study subjects. This therapy represents a non-invasive alternative to chemical and physical restrictions. More research applying this non-pharmacological therapy, with good quality methodology and a bigger cohort, is needed.
Repositori URV