Smith, M.C., Kemp, J., Hemphill, L., & Vojir, C.P. (2002). Outcomes of therapeutic massage for hospitalized cancer patients. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 34, 257–262.
To examine the effects of therapeutic massage on pain, sleep quality, symptom distress, and anxiety in patients hospitalized for treatment of cancer
Patients who received massage had 15–20 minutes of light Swedish massage techniques of effleurage and petrissage three times during one week of hospitalization. Each session was given at least 24 hours apart. The control condition was 20 minutes of deliberate focused communication from a nurse. Discussions involved patient teaching, relaxation techniques, questions about cancer and treatment, life challenges, and stress reduction.
Active treatment phase
A quasi-experimental design was used.
Provision of therapeutic massage in hospitalized patients with cancer may have a positive effect on pain and symptom distress.
This study did not provide any strong support for the use of therapeutic massage in hospitalized patients with cancer.