Efektivitas Terapi Pijat Refleksi pada Kaki terhadap Penurunan Intensitas Dismenore di SMK Negeri 8 Medan

Abstract

Dysmenorrhea, or menstrual pain, refers to uterine cramps that occur during menstruation. It is caused by both internal and external factors. Foot reflexology massage has been identified as an effective intervention for alleviating menstrual pain. This massage technique can reduce pain intensity at various levels, ranging from mild to severe pain that can interfere with daily activities. The aim of this study is to identify the effect of foot reflexology massage on dysmenorrhea intensity among students at SMK Negeri 8 Medan. This study employs a quantitative research design using a quasi-experimental approach with a one-group pre- posttest design. The study population consists of 61 female students at SMK Negeri 8 Medan, selected using a purposive sampling technique. The research instrument used is a pain intensity questionnaire based on the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) which has been validated. Data processing was conducted using the Paired t-test. The tanivariate analysis revealed that before the foot reflexology massage intervention, most students experienced severe pain (45.9%), moderate pain (42.6%), and mild pain (11.5%). After the intervention, the pain intensity changed to no pain (6.6%), mild pain (42.6%), and moderate pain (50.8%). The bivariate analysis showed a p-value of 0.000 (p<0.05), leading to the rejection of the null hypothesis (Ho) and acceptance of the alternative hypothesis (Ha), indicating that foot reflexology massage is effective in reducing dysmenorrhea intensity. Further research is needed to promote the widespread clinical application of foot reflexology therapy and to develop appropriate educational materials for young women, so that foot reflexology can become an effective self-therapy option for managing dysmenorrhea.