| Sumario: | 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 and inferential 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.
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