Toth, M., Marcantonio, E.R., Davis, R.B., Walton, T., Kahn, J.R., & Phillips, R.S. (2013). Massage therapy for patients with metastatic cancer: A pilot randomized controlled trial. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 19, 650–656. 

DOI Link

Study Purpose

To determine the feasibility and effects of providing therapeutic massage at home for patients with metastatic cancer

Intervention Characteristics/Basic Study Process

Massage therapy was the experimental intervention. Professional massage therapists provided the intervention in patients’ homes up to three times during the first week after enrollment. The duration of massage ranged from 15–45 minutes; the duration and amount of pressure was modified based on patients’ comfort. Control groups received either a no-touch intervention or usual care. The no-touch intervention consisted of massage therapists being with patients and holding hands without any healing intervention in their homes. Usual care did not include a home visit. Data were collected at baseline and four times after the intervention during a weekly assessment. 

Sample Characteristics

  • N = 39 (final sample); 20 received massage intervention, 10 received no-touch control, 9 received usual-care control
  • MEAN  AGE = 55.1 (SD = 11)
  • MALES: 18%, FEMALES: 82%
  • KEY DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Metastatic cancer
  • OTHER KEY SAMPLE CHARACTERISTICS: 56% had breast cancer.

Setting

  • SITE: Single site  
  • SETTING TYPE: Home    
  • LOCATION: Boston, MA; oncology clinics at a large urban academic medical center

Phase of Care and Clinical Applications

  • PHASE OF CARE: End-of-life care
  • APPLICATIONS: Palliative care 

Study Design

  • Pilot randomized, controlled trial
    • No blinding

Measurement Instruments/Methods

  • State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI)
  • Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form
  • Global measure of perceived stress

Results

Massage therapy at home was a feasible intervention. The mean number of massage therapy sessions per patient was 2.8. There were no serious adverse events related to the interventions. There were no significant changes in the primary outcomes (i.e., pain, anxiety, and alertness). There were only trends toward improvement in pain and sleep of patients after therapeutic massage but not in patients in the control groups. Researchers identified a significant improvement in the quality of life of patients who received massage therapy after one-week follow-up, but the difference was not sustained at one month. 

Conclusions

The study shows that therapeutic massage at home is a feasible intervention. However, its effects on anxiety or pain were not conclusive. The small and uneven sample sizes across groups are a major weakness of the study. Although two measures were used for anxiety, the authors did not state which measures were used for the main analysis. Validity of measurements (i.e., alertness, and quality-of-life measure) is also problematic.

Limitations

  • Small sample (< 30)
  • Risk of bias (no control group)
  • Measurement of validity/reliability questionable

 

Nursing Implications

The role of nurses for this intervention is not clear. The massage therapy given in the present study was a professional intervention.