Reflexology versus Aromatherapy Massage for Relieving Anxiety and Depression in Hospitalized Older Women: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Background: One of the most common issues among older patients is anxiety and depression during hospitalization.Non-pharmacological methods can relieve anxiety and depression in older people, but comparison of the effects of various complementary methods needs further studies.Aim: This study aimed to compare the effects of reflexology and aromatherapy massage on anxiety and depression in older women hospitalized in the cardiac care unit.Methodology: In this randomized clinical trial, older women were randomly assigned to three groups as reflexology, aromatherapy massage, and control (n=45 in each group). The hospital anxiety and depression scale was used to assess anxiety and depression before and immediately after the interventions, and collected data was analysed using descriptive andinferential statistics.Results: It was found that anxiety and depression significantly reduced after the interventions in both intervention groups (p=0.001). However, reflexology had a better effect on the reduction of anxiety and depression in the older women.Conclusions: While both reflexology and aromatherapy massage had positive effects on anxiety and depression, reflexology was more effective in alleviating psychological symptoms in older women hospitalized in the cardiac care unit