ReflexologyNCT06120101
Reflexology on Seizure Frequency, Fatigue, Stress and Sleep Quality in Epilepsy Patients
A study testing Reflexology Massage in people with Reflexology and Epilepsy, run by Ataturk University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
Epilepsy is among the diseases that cause loss of neurological abilities regardless of any trauma. Reflexology is one of the complementary therapies based on activating the body's self-healing power through special hand techniques applied to the feet. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 70 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Reflexology, Epilepsy, Fatigue
- What is being tested?
- Reflexology Massage
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 70 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 15 Aug 2023to 15 Dec 2025
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 70 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Knowing the diagnosis of the disease
- Having not received reflexology therapy before
- Being literate in Turkish
- Conscious Open,
- Able to communicate verbally,
- Being 18 years or older
Who cannot join
- Pain starts while doing massage,
- Having an infection,
- High fever,
- Having clot problems in the leg veins,
- Having an acute (newly developing) disease (heart attack, fainting, etc.),
- Wounds in the application area,
Show all 10Show fewer
- Patients in the first 3 months of pregnancy.
- Paraplegia or thrombosis
- Leg varicose veins or foot disease (open wound or fracture on the foot)
- Diagnosis of psychiatric disorder or dementia
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Examining the Effect of Foot Reflexology Massage on Seizure Frequency, Fatigue, Stress and Sleep Quality in Epilepsy Patients: Randomized Control Experimental Research
Epilepsy is among the diseases that cause loss of neurological abilities regardless of any trauma. Reflexology is one of the complementary therapies based on activating the body's self-healing power through special hand techniques applied to the feet. It is known that there are positive changes in seizure frequency, fatigue, stress and sleep quality in epilepsy patients after reflexology. This study will be conducted to determine the effect of reflexology on seizure frequency, fatigue, stress and sleep quality in epilepsy patients.
Read the detailed description
Individual interviews were conducted with epilepsy patients who applied to the neurology clinic of a university hospital where the research was conducted, and patients who met the inclusion criteria and agreed to participate in the study will be randomly included in the experiment.
Patients arriving on the first day of the week will be placed in the experimental group. In the following days, groups will be formed as one day experiment and one day control (Monday-experiment, Tuesday-control, Wednesday-experiment, Thursday-control, Friday-experiment). Data collection tools will be applied to the experimental and control group patients at the beginning and end of the study. Only reflexology massage will be applied to the experimental group, and no application will be applied to the control group. Data will be collected simultaneously with the control and experimental groups.
- Conditions
- Reflexology, Epilepsy, Fatigue, Stress
- Being tested
- Reflexology Massage
- Medical subject headings
- Epilepsy, Fatigue
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Reflexology MassageBehavioural
The researcher washed his hands with an antibacterial soap before cleaning the patient's feet. The feet were cleaned according to the patient's preference; To wash feet with water or use disposable wet cloth. The patients were placed in a supine position on the bed in the room and their joint points were supported. The researcher stood at the end of the patient's bed during treatment. Unscented sesame oil at room temperature was used to provide lubrication during reflexology. The application started with the patient's right foot. The foot was first relaxed by applying effleurage, shaking, rotation and stretching methods. During the application, the researcher used the fingers of the other hand while supporting the patient's foot with one hand, and the thumb and caterpillar technique was mostly used. In other applications, the index finger and other fingers were used. The training ended by applying solar plexus pressure to both feet.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Experimental | Experimental | Reflexology will be applied in a total of 3 sessions and the final test will be applied to the patients by phone 24 hours after the last reflexology application. At the end of the study, 3 reflexology sessions and 2 test measurements will be performed on the experimental group. Each reflexology session takes approximately 30-40 minutes. Sessions will be performed in a private room within the neurology clinic, on ergonomic and repositionable beds. Each session started with the right foot and will continue with the left foot. Primary relaxation techniques will be applied to both feet, followed by reflexology techniques to all system organs. Receives: Behavioral: Reflexology Massage |
| Control | No intervention | No application will be applied to the control group. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Chalder Fatigue Scale (CFA)
Individuals' fatigue level was evaluated with the CSI developed by Trudie Chalder in 1993. CWS is an 11-item scale that evaluates the fatigue felt by individuals during the last month through self-report. CEX consists of physical fatigue and mental fatigue subscales. A four-point Likert scale is used in the evaluation.
Measured: two week
Perceived Stress Scale (PSS)
It was developed by Cohen, Kamarck \& Mermelste in 1983, and its Cronbach Alpha value was found to be 0.86 in the reliability study. In this study, the scale adapted to Turkish by Bilge, Öğce, Genç and Oran (2007) was used, and the Cronbach Alpha value was found to be 0.81 in the reliability study. Three items of the scale prepared in a 5-point Likert type (0 never, 4 very often) are reverse-worded (items 4, 5, 6), and five items are literal (items 1, 2, 3, 7, 8). ). A total score of 0-32 is taken from the scale. It has two subscales: perceived stress (items 1, 2, 3, 7, 8) and perceived coping (items 4, 5, and 6). The scale is evaluated on both total score and subscale scores. A high total score means a high perceived stress level. High scores from the subscales are a negative situation.
Measured: Two week
Pittsburg Sleep Quality scale (PSQI)
The scale developed by Buysse et al., Turkish reliability and validity study by Ağargün et al. (Ağargün MY, Kara H, 1996). Made by. The scale, which examines the individual's sleep quality in the last month, consists of 24 items. Each question is evaluated with a number from 0 to 3. The highest score that can be obtained from the scale is 21. An increase in the score obtained from the scale indicates that sleep quality is poor.
Measured: Two week
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted7 Nov 2023
- Study start15 Aug 2023
- Primary completion15 Nov 2025
- Study completion15 Dec 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for ReflexologyStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Ataturk UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Investigator
- Enrolment
- 70 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Ataturk University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, NİHAN TÜRKOĞLU, Ataturk University
- Investigators
- Nihan Türkoğlu, Principal investigator, Ataturk University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06120101
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- NihanTurkoglu
- Status last verified
- Apr 2026
- First submitted
- 1 Nov 2023
- Last updated
- 6 Apr 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 6 Apr 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Examining the Effect of Foot Reflexology Massage on Seizure Frequency, Fatigue, Stress and Sleep Quality in Epilepsy Patients: Randomized Control Experimental Research
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06120101
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- NihanTurkoglu
- Conditions
- Reflexology, Epilepsy, Fatigue, Stress
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 70 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Ataturk UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 15 Aug 2023 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 15 Nov 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 15 Dec 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 7 Nov 2023 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Epilepsy is among the diseases that cause loss of neurological abilities regardless of any trauma. Reflexology is one of the complementary therapies based on activating the body's self-healing power through special hand techniques applied to the feet. It is known that there are positive changes in seizure frequency, fatigue, stress and sleep quality in epilepsy patients after reflexology. This study will be conducted to determine the effect of reflexology on seizure frequency, fatigue, stress and sleep quality in epilepsy patients.
Detailed description
Individual interviews were conducted with epilepsy patients who applied to the neurology clinic of a university hospital where the research was conducted, and patients who met the inclusion criteria and agreed to participate in the study will be randomly included in the experiment.
Patients arriving on the first day of the week will be placed in the experimental group. In the following days, groups will be formed as one day experiment and one day control (Monday-experiment, Tuesday-control, Wednesday-experiment, Thursday-control, Friday-experiment). Data collection tools will be applied to the experimental and control group patients at the beginning and end of the study. Only reflexology massage will be applied to the experimental group, and no application will be applied to the control group. Data will be collected simultaneously with the control and experimental groups.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind (participant, investigator)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Experimental | Experimental | Behavioral: Reflexology MassageReflexology will be applied in a total of 3 sessions and the final test will be applied to the patients by phone 24 hours after the last reflexology application. At the end of the study, 3 reflexology sessions and 2 test measurements will be performed on the experimental group. Each reflexology session takes approximately 30-40 minutes. Sessions will be performed in a private room within the neurology clinic, on ergonomic and repositionable beds. Each session started with the right foot and will continue with the left foot. Primary relaxation techniques will be applied to both feet, followed by reflexology techniques to all system organs. |
| Control | No intervention | –No application will be applied to the control group. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 70 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Knowing the diagnosis of the disease
- Having not received reflexology therapy before
- Being literate in Turkish
- Conscious Open,
- Able to communicate verbally,
Key exclusion criteria (10 listed)
- Pain starts while doing massage,
- Having an infection,
- High fever,
- Having clot problems in the leg veins,
- Having an acute (newly developing) disease (heart attack, fainting, etc.),
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Reflexology MassageThe researcher washed his hands with an antibacterial soap before cleaning the patient's feet. The feet were cleaned according to the patient's preference; To wash feet with water or use disposable wet cloth. The patients were placed in a supine position on the bed in the room and their joint points were supported. The researcher stood at the end of the patient's bed during treatment. Unscented sesame oil at room temperature was used to provide lubrication during reflexology. The application started with the patient's right foot. The foot was first relaxed by applying effleurage, shaking, rotation and stretching methods. During the application, the researcher used the fingers of the other hand while supporting the patient's foot with one hand, and the thumb and caterpillar technique was mostly used. In other applications, the index finger and other fingers were used. The training ended by applying solar plexus pressure to both feet. | Behavioural | Experimental |
Primary outcome
Chalder Fatigue Scale (CFA)
Time frame: two week
Individuals' fatigue level was evaluated with the CSI developed by Trudie Chalder in 1993. CWS is an 11-item scale that evaluates the fatigue felt by individuals during the last month through self-report. CEX consists of physical fatigue and mental fatigue subscales. A four-point Likert scale is used in the evaluation.
Perceived Stress Scale (PSS)
Time frame: Two week
It was developed by Cohen, Kamarck \& Mermelste in 1983, and its Cronbach Alpha value was found to be 0.86 in the reliability study. In this study, the scale adapted to Turkish by Bilge, Öğce, Genç and Oran (2007) was used, and the Cronbach Alpha value was found to be 0.81 in the reliability study. Three items of the scale prepared in a 5-point Likert type (0 never, 4 very often) are reverse-worded (items 4, 5, 6), and five items are literal (items 1, 2, 3, 7, 8). ). A total score of 0-32 is taken from the scale. It has two subscales: perceived stress (items 1, 2, 3, 7, 8) and perceived coping (items 4, 5, and 6). The scale is evaluated on both total score and subscale scores. A high total score means a high perceived stress level. High scores from the subscales are a negative situation.
Pittsburg Sleep Quality scale (PSQI)
Time frame: Two week
The scale developed by Buysse et al., Turkish reliability and validity study by Ağargün et al. (Ağargün MY, Kara H, 1996). Made by. The scale, which examines the individual's sleep quality in the last month, consists of 24 items. Each question is evaluated with a number from 0 to 3. The highest score that can be obtained from the scale is 21. An increase in the score obtained from the scale indicates that sleep quality is poor.
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 6 Apr 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
Related trials for Reflexology
Not yet recruiting
Pre-Examination Reflexology for Anxiety and Pain During Pelvic Examination
Anxiety
Recruiting
Reflexology Hand Massage After Cesarean Section
Cesarean Section, Anxiety
Not yet recruiting
Foot Reflexology for Anxiety in Women Hospitalized With High-Risk Pregnancy
Anxiety, Pregnancy, High-Risk
Recruiting
Foot Reflexology and Massage in Neonates Receiving Phototherapy
Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia
Not yet recruiting
THE EFFECT OF A REFLEXOLOGY PROGRAM ON PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME SYMPTOMS, QUALİTY OF LİFE AND GENERAL COMFORT
Premenstrual Syndrome-PMS
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Nihan Türkoğlu principal investigator
Ataturk University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Reflexology Massage in people with Reflexology and Epilepsy, run by Ataturk University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 6 inclusion and 10 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 6 Apr 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Chalder Fatigue Scale (CFA) (time frame: two week). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 6 Apr 2026.