Cassileth, B.R., & Vickers, A.J. (2004). Massage therapy for symptom control: Outcome study at a major cancer center. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 28, 244-249.

Patients with cancer received light touch, Swedish, or foot massage. No control group was included.

• The study consisted of 1,290 participants. Of these, 1,255 reported on the nausea question.
• Researchers were unable to ascertain which patients were receiving chemotherapy.
• Patients were self-referred or referred by a physician.

The study was conducted in Inpatient and outpatient settings.

A visual analog scale (VAS) was used to measure nausea and vomiting, pain, fatigue, stress, anxiety, and depression.

Just more than half (51%) experienced a decrease in nausea.

A risk of bias exists for nontraditional treatment.