Grealish, L., Lomasney, A., & Whiteman, B. (2000). Foot massage: A nursing intervention to modify the distressing symptoms of pain and nausea in patients hospitalized with cancer. Cancer Nursing, 23, 237-243.

• Participants were assigned randomly to one of three factor-control groups.
• Patients were given a 10-minute foot massage (five minutes per foot) on three consecutive days from 7–8 pm.
• Patients were given slow and firm massage or gentle strokes toward the heart, from the base of the toes up the foot and lower leg to the knee.
• Patients received a short foot massage before study enrollment to reduce the possibility of anticipatory anxiety.

• The study consisted of 87 participants.
• The sample was 60% female and 40% male.
• Patients ranged in age from 18-88 years.
• To be included, patients had to have
  • Been diagnosed with cancer.
  • Been 18 years or older.
  • Reported pain or nausea.
  • Had not received surgery in the last six weeks.
• Primary cancer sites varied, and 32 participants had metastatic disease.

All participants were in the inpatient setting. No further setting description was provided.

• Patients reported symptoms using a 100-mm visual analog scale (VAS) with 0 mm = no nausea, and 100 mm = vomiting or dry retching.
• Heart rate and subjective data were measured at two intervals: before massage and 10–20 minutes after completion of massage.
• On control nights, participants stayed quietly in bed and did a quiet activity with the same measurements.

Evidence suggested that massage reduces feelings of nausea. No significant difference was found between the control session pretest mean nausea score and post-test mean nausea score. In contrast, the mean nausea scores for the massage sessions decreased.

• In session 1, t = 3.117, p = 0.0012, and the mean difference was 6.4 mm.
• In session 2, t = 3.178, p = 0.0011, and the mean difference was 4.9 mm.

• The study did not control for medications, although they were recorded.
• Findings were not correlated with diagnosis, type of cancer, metastases, or treatment schedules.
• The long-term effects of massage are unknown.
• Pain and relaxation were measured as well as nausea and vomiting.