Soden, K., Vincent, K., Craske, S., Lucas, C., & Ashley, S. (2004). A randomized controlled trial of aromatherapy massage in a hospice setting. Palliative Medicine, 18, 87–92.

Patients were randomly allocated to one of three groups:  (a) massage with lavender essential oil and an inert carrier oil, (b) massage with inert carrier oil, or (c) a control group without massage. Patients receiving weekly massages were not told which oils were used. The two massage groups received a standardized, 30-minute back massage weekly for four weeks. Patients in the control group completed the assessment scales weekly during the study period but did not receive massages. Outcomes were anxiety, aromatherapy, massage, pain, palliative care, and sleep.

• The sample was comprised of 42 patients with cancer.
• Median age was 73 years.

• Three specialist palliative care units
• South Thames region, United Kingdom

The study was a randomized, controlled trial.

• Visual analog scale (VAS) of pain intensity
• Modified Tursky Pain Descriptors Scale
• Verran and Snyder-Halpern Sleep Scale (VSH)
• Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)
• Rotterdam Symptom Checklist (RSCL)

No significant long-term benefits of aromatherapy or massage were demonstrated in terms of improving pain control, anxiety, or quality of life (QOL). Sleep scores improved significantly in the massage and the combined massage groups.

• Recruitment to the study was slow.
• Sample sizes were smaller than planned.
• The poor performance status and fatigue experienced by many patients made it difficult for them to complete the questionnaires and attend weekly treatment sessions.
• The study had a relatively high attrition rate (14%).
• Massage therapists were unable to tailor the treatment to individual patients, which may have undermined its true effect.