Shin, E.S., Seo, K.H., Lee, S.H., Jang, J.E., Jung, Y.M., Kim, M.J., & Yeon, J.Y. (2016). Massage with or without aromatherapy for symptom relief in people with cancer. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 6, CD009873. 

DOI Link

Purpose

STUDY PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of massage and aromatherapy massage on symptoms in people with cancer

TYPE OF STUDY: Meta-analysis and systematic review

Search Strategy

DATABASES USED: Cochrane collaboration, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, WHO, PsycINFO, South Asian Database of Controlled Trials
 
INCLUSION CRITERIA: Adults and children; randomized, controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the effects of massage

Literature Evaluated

TOTAL REFERENCES RETRIEVED: 21,376
 
EVALUATION METHOD AND COMMENTS ON LITERATURE USED: GRADE criteria was applied to show quality. The quality of studies included was very low because of multiple limitations in studies. Cochrane risk of bias assessment showed low risk because of selective reporting, and over half the studies had an unclear or high risk of bias.

Sample Characteristics

  • FINAL NUMBER STUDIES INCLUDED = 19, 5 in meta-analysis
  • TOTAL PATIENTS INCLUDED IN REVIEW = 1,274
  • SAMPLE RANGE ACROSS STUDIES: 20–144
  • KEY SAMPLE CHARACTERISTICS: Varied tumor types, varied settings and phases of care

Phase of Care and Clinical Applications

PHASE OF CARE: Multiple phases of care
 
APPLICATIONS: Palliative care

Results

Results of the meta-analysis showed no significant differences between massage and no massage for pain, depression, fatigue, or nausea. A meta-analysis of three studies showed significantly lower state anxiety with massage (MD = 18.6, p = 0.0003); however, all studies had very small samples and a high risk of bias. At longer follow-up, no differences were reported between groups in anxiety.

Conclusions

Insufficient evidence exists to show a benefit of massage therapy with or without aromatherapy for the relief of multiple symptoms in people with cancer.

Limitations

  • Limited number of studies included
  • Mostly low quality/high risk of bias studies
  • Low sample sizes

Nursing Implications

Evidence regarding the effects of massage and aromatherapy massage on various patient symptoms did not show substantial clinical benefit, and evidence is insufficient. However, massage is generally a very low-risk intervention that may provide very short-term benefits for some patients. Additional well-designed research is needed to determine the role of this type of intervention as part of symptom management among patients with cancer at various times in the cancer trajectory.

Legacy ID

6273