Table 2.
Summary characteristics of the included studies.
| Author First author, Year |
Location | Duration | Sample | Sample Size (n) | Sample Age | Sample Gestational Week | Main Outcome Measures | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mollart 2003 [20] | Australia | Sep 1999 to Aug 2001 | Pregnancy with ankle and foot edema | n = 55 | Control Group (n = 10) Reflexology Group (n = 45) |
27 ± 5.66 | 35.9 ± 1.79 | Measurements of ankle and foot circumference |
| Dolatian 2011 [21] | Iran | In 2018 | Pregnancy | n = 120 | Control Group (n = 40) Reflexology Group (n = 40) Support Group (n = 40) |
22.9 ± 3.85 | 39 ± 1.24 | VAS Duration of three stages |
| Close 2015 [22] | UK | Jul 2012 to Sep 2013 | Pregnancy | n = 64 | Control Group (n = 25) Placebo Group (n = 15) Reflexology Group (n = 24) |
30.1 ± 5.65 | 32.04 ± 1.26 | VAS RMDQ STAI TX-1 |
| Mccullough 2017 [23] | UK | Jul 2012 to Nov 2013 | Pregnancy with LBPP | n = 64 | Control Group (n = 25) Reflexology Group (n = 24) Placebo Group (n = 15) |
30.3 ± 5.5 | 21.7 ± 0.9 | Labour time of onset and duration of the second stage |
| Shobeiri 2017 [24] | Iran | Jan 2016 to Mar 2016 | Pregnancy | n = 126 | Control group (n = 42) Reflexology Group (n = 84) |
25.85 ± 7.28 | 25.16 ± 4.73 | 30-question standard checklist for fatigue assessment |
| Mccullough 2018 [25] | UK | Jul 2012 to Dec 2013 | Pregnancy with LBPP | n = 61 | Control group (n = 23) Reflexology Group (n = 23) Placebo Group (n = 15) |
30.4 ± 5.8 | 27.1 ± 5.9 | VAS Beta-endorphin STAI TX-1 Cortisol |
| Erkek 2018 [26] | Turkey | Not reported | Pregnancy with anxiety | n = 154 | Control Group (n = 77) Reflexology Group (n = 77) |
Not reported | 40 | STAI TX-1 |
| Nasir 2019 [27] | Iran | Mar to Jun 2018 | Pregnancy with gestational diabetes and high blood pressure | n = 72 | Control Group (n = 36) Reflexology Group (n = 36) |
27.5 ± 6.2 | 28–32 | SCI |
| Navaee 2019 [28] | Iran | in 2019 | Pregnancy with anxiety | n = 60 | Control Group (n = 30) Reflexology Group (n = 30) |
26 ± 4 | 38 | STAI TX-1 |
| Sehhatti 2020 [29] | Iran | 2017 to 2018 | Pregnancy with constipation diagnosis | n = 72 | Control Group (n = 36) Reflexology Group (n = 36) |
25.4 ± 4.6 | 23–28 | CAS STAI TX-1 |
| Semra 2020 [30] | Turkey | 1 Jul 2017 to 7 Jul 2018 | Pregnancy | n = 60 | Control Group (n = 30) Reflexology Group (n = 30) |
Not reported | Not reported | VAS Duration of three stages Birth Satisfaction Scale STAI TX-1 |
| Jameei-Moghaddam 2021 [31] | Iran | Jan 2020 to Oct 2020 | pregnancy | n = 60 | Control Group (n = 28) Reflexology Group (n = 32) |
26 ± 6.2 | 39.9 ± 0.9 | VAS Duration of three stages |
| Kaplan 2021 [32] | Turkey | 15 Jun 2019 to 15 Mar 2020 | Pregnancy | n = 120 | Control Group (n = 40) Reflexology Group (n = 40) Guided Imagery Group (n = 40) |
23.6 ± 3.8 | Not reported | VAS Duration of the active phase, transition phase, and 2nd stage |
Note. VAS: Visual Analogue Scale; RMDQ: Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire; STAI TX-1: S-subscale of State Trait Anxiety Inventory; CAS: Constipation Assessment Scale; SCI: Sleep Condition Indicator.