Seminar #4: Improving the Reporting of Reflexology Intervention Studies: Towards Greater Clarity and Scientific Rigor

Seminar #4: Improving the Reporting of Reflexology Intervention Studies: Towards Greater Clarity and Scientific Rigor

Speaker: Dr Jacqueline James,
BSc (Hons), PGCE, DHealthSci

➡️ Background:

Reflexology is a holistic complementary therapy applied to the feet, hands, ears, or face. Given the variety of reflexology practices, it is essential that research studies clearly articulate the specific details of the reflexology intervention. However, current research often lacks adequate descriptions of the intervention, making it difficult to ensure transparency, replication, and comparability across studies.

➡️ Aims and objectives:

This seminar introduces new guidance to help authors achieve comprehensive intervention documentation. It emphasizes the essential role of thorough reporting in improving study reproducibility and provides real-life examples highlighting current gaps in reflexology reporting.

➡️ Methods:

This seminar is informed by two published studies: (1) a systematic review benchmarking the quality of reflexology intervention reporting (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eujim.2024.102391), and (2) reflexology-specific guidance for intervention reporting (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eujim.2024.102416). The guidance was developed through a three-round Delphi process and a consolidation meeting with a multi-national panel (N=43), comprising reflexologists (N=29), researchers (N=12), and methodological experts (N=2) from the UK (N=37), Australasia (N=3), Greece (N=1), USA (N=1), and Taiwan (N=1). Both studies utilized the TIDieR checklist, which outlines 12 key intervention elements: brief name, rationale (why), materials (what), procedures (what), provider (who), delivery mode (how), location (where), dose (when and how much), tailoring, modifications, and fidelity (how well: planned and actual).

➡️ Results:

From 421 references identified in the systematic review, 41 eligible studies were analyzed. Four TIDieR elements were well-documented, while two showed moderate compliance. Four elements were poorly addressed, with intervention modifications and fidelity assessments rarely reported.

A reflexology-specific guidance document was developed to enhance the use of the TIDieR checklist for reporting interventions.

➡️ Conclusion:

Enhancing the quality and completeness of reflexology intervention reporting is transparency, replication, and comparability across studies. Authors, journal editors, and peer reviewers are encouraged to adopt the new guidance to support this goal.