WRITING A RESEARCH CASE STUDY

(9/2013)

Research literacy is the ability to find, understand & critically evaluate research.
Research on how reflexology affects people living with identifiable disorders can be
beneficial to the therapist’s personal practice and contribute to the larger body of
knowledge that supports the efficacy of the field.

A research case study that follows a common recognizable format can be submitted
to meet the 300-hour requirement for membership. You can earn up to 50 credits for
this pathway. At the completion of your study, you will be expected to explain what you
learned from this activity that you could apply to your practice of reflexology.
NOTE: The case study cannot have been part of your initial training in reflexology; it
must be initiated following completion of the course material.

Types of research studies

There are two recognizable methods of research in the United States. The research
study that you will be preparing is the first. The second method is very costly, requires
outside funding and more time and output than you are being asked to submit.

1. Weaker design. In this model the author:

 generates an idea (ex. How does reflexology affect someone living with asthma?)
 collects anecdotal examples through a case report/study
 writes a paper of his/her findings
 publishes the paper on the internet and/or in a printed publication

2. Stronger design. In this model the author(s):

 generates an idea
 tests the hypothesis through a randomized double blind control study;
 analyzes the test results
 writes a paper of his/her findings
 submits the paper to a peer-reviewed journal; peer experts either accept or reject
study
If accepted, the study is published on the internet and/or in a printed publication.
Creating a research case study

Structure

1. Choose a chronic condition. This can be a condition that presents often in your
practice or personal life, or some imbalance that you are curious about. Consider that
you could later use your study as a marketing tool to build a clientele base of people
living with this particular condition.

2. Choose a subject. This is maybe the most important piece. This individual must be
willing and able to make all appointments set for the study. They must be willing to
keep a short daily diary/log (which you will supply) between appointments. They cannot
receive any other reflexology sessions during the time they are receiving the study
sessions. Ideally, they will not receive any other alternative/natural hands-on work either.
Subjects should not adjust any medications that they are taking.

3. Research any existing literature on the condition. Were studies done before? See
Researching Previous Studies below.

4. Create a treatment plan:

 Techniques used
 Reflexes worked
 Length of session
 Frequency of session
 Time of day of sessions

5. Create a simple “diary” for the client to record subjective experiences between
sessions. You may want to include such areas as need for medication (time, dosage,
and frequency), pain level (1-10, or mild, moderate, severe), sleep patterns, stress
levels, change in ADLs (Activities of Daily Living) or lifestyle and anything else pertinent
to the situation. You will not submit the diary; instead, you will use the information to
write your results of the study.

6. Create a simple consent and release form, promising confidentiality and requesting
permission to submit your findings as part of your studies in Reflexology. Mention that
the case study may be published in a health and/or educational publication, if you
think that you might wish to submit your study for publication down the road. Assure
them that their personal details will remain confidential; no mention of their name or
residency will be released.

7. Implement the plan.

8. Write up results in both subjective and objective terminology.

9. Discuss the implications of the study outcomes and make recommendations for
future study.

Report Guidelines

1. Minimum of six sessions. You may choose to schedule the sessions once or
twice/week. Schedule on the same day(s) and at the same time.

2. Reflexology is the only intervention. Do not add in hydrotherapy, aromatherapy,

other hands-on modalities or even a lubricant; just your hands.

3. Subject’s confidentiality is maintained. No personal information in report.

4. Repeat the exact same session each time. Same techniques, same order, etc. A
research study attempts to remove any variables that might skew the results.

Writing the Report

1. Title. Asthma, Allergies and Reflexology (example)

 Subject’s gender and age
 Subject’s occupation
 Therapist’s name
 Therapist’s credentials and contact information (website, e-mail)

2. Introduction. Site any previous studies with Reflexology and the health issue you are
researching and the results of those studies. In narrative form, briefly introduce the
subject, including age and gender, and the complaints. State how long the subject
has lived with the complaint and past avenues of remedy that were sought. State that
the case study is presented from two perspectives: firstly, that of the subject (subjective)
and secondly, that of the therapist (objective).

3. Type up the pre-session interview with the subject where s/he relates his/her health
history and experience with the complaint. You can start with a question as simple as,
“Tell me about yourself.” Example questions:
 Tell me about your (respiratory) issues.
 How have you attempted to resolve these problems?
 What medications do you take for this issue; when and how often do you need to
take these medications?
 What are the dosages?
 How have they helped or made worse the situation?
 How did you hear about Reflexology?
 Have you received any professional Reflexology sessions before, and if yes, what
were the results?
4. Describe your treatment plan, including a list of the reflexes you are going to focus
on, the techniques you will employ, length of sessions, number of sessions, frequency
and time of day. Explain your rationale for the above choices.

5. Keep detailed SOAP notes, attaching a copy of the subject’s diary notes since last
session. Ask questions!! Get details!! Be detailed in recording your objective findings.
You will not submit the SOAP notes, but will use them to write your results.

6. Write your results. This will be from the two perspectives: the subjective from the
subject and your objective findings. Remember to write the subject’s report in
subjective terminology (Client states/reports/complains of/tells me/informs, etc.) and
stick to observations for yours (Therapist noted/noticed/felt, etc). Do a post-session
interview with the subject before writing this part.

7. Make a recommendation for future plans for the subject in terms of care for this
health issue.

8. Write your conclusion from the study. Make sure to say something about the fact
that from one case study it is not possible to generalize as to what results Reflexology
would have on the entire population of (asthma/allergy) sufferers. Say something about
your study supporting continued exploration of the use of Reflexology in such cases.
Cite national statistics of the number of people in this country who suffer from
(asthma/allergies), the direct monetary cost of the disease and the cost-effectiveness
of vigorous medical research on the use of Reflexology to address the condition
described.

Your Internet searches will serve as a reference on how to write your report. You may
also read the simply written case studies published by previous students of Reflexology
at: http://www.academyofancientreflexology.com/casestudies/index.html

Researching previous studies

Here are three ways to find information on the Internet regarding previous studies done
with reflexology:

1. Go to a search engine site (Google, Yahoo, Metacrawler, etc.) and type in the
subject line what you are searching; i.e. Reflexology and Asthma.
2. Search on a specialized database site:
 www.reflexology-research.com
 www.pubmed.com
 www.google-scholar.com
 www.google.com/translate_s?hi=en

3. Research topic through online medical journals:

 Alternative Therapies in Health & Medicine – www.alternativetherapies.com
 The Journal of the American Medical Association –
www.jama.ama-assn.org/issues
 British Medical Journal – www.bmj.com
 The Lancet – www.thelancet.com
 The New England Journal of Medicine – www.nejm.org
OR
other resources:
 International Journal of Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork – www.ijtmb.org
 American Massage Therapy Foundation – www.amtafoundation.org
 Canadian Massage Therapy Association – www.cmta.ca
 Touch Research Institute – www.Miami.edu/touch-research/home/html
 Rosenthal Center for Complimentary Medicine at Columbia University –
www.cpmcnet.columbia.edu/dept/rosenthal
 Research Council for Complimentary Medicine – www.rccm-org.uk
 National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine – www.nccam.nih.gov

Receiving Credit

Submit your written report of the case study, along with a short narrative describing
what you learned from this activity that you could apply to your reflexology practice,
and how many hours this activity took (maximum of 50 credits given). A report of this
nature will print out single-spaced at between three and five pages. Hard copy reports
will be retained in the RAA office for 30 days after being approved for credit; at that
point they will be discarded. If you wish it returned, please include a stamped self-
addressed return envelope.

Submission choices:
Electronic format: Microsoft Word (PC or Mac version) to [email protected]
Hard copies: RAA Administrative Office, PO Box 714, Chepachet, RI 02814
Scanned copies: [email protected]
Fax: 401/568.6449