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Complementary therapies for children undergoing stem cell transplantation: report of a multisite trial

Sean Phipps1, Maru Barrera, Kathryn Vannatta

  • 1Department of Behavioral Medicine, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38105-3678, USA. sean.phipps@stjude.org

Cancer
|July 14, 2010
PubMed

Insights

This study found that complementary therapies like massage and humor did not significantly reduce distress in children undergoing stem cell transplants (SCT). Further research is needed to explore effective supportive care options for pediatric SCT patients.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Oncology
  • Integrative Medicine
  • Hematology

Background:

  • Children undergoing stem cell transplant (SCT) frequently experience significant somatic distress and mood disturbances.
  • Pediatric SCT requires effective interventions to manage patient and family well-being.
  • Complementary therapies are explored as supportive care options.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy of complementary therapies, including massage, humor therapy, and relaxation/imagery, in reducing distress for pediatric SCT patients.
  • To assess the impact of these interventions on patient and parent-reported outcomes.
  • To determine if these therapies affect medical outcomes such as hospitalization length and medication use.

Main Methods:

  • A randomized controlled trial involving 178 pediatric patients across 4 sites undergoing SCT.
  • Patients were randomized to receive child-focused interventions (massage, humor), child and parent interventions (massage, relaxation/imagery), or standard care.
  • Outcomes, including distress and mood, were assessed weekly using the Behavioral, Affective, and Somatic Experiences Scales.

Main Results:

  • While significant changes in distress and mood were observed over time for all patients, no significant differences were found between the intervention groups and the standard care group.
  • No statistically significant differences were noted between treatment arms for primary patient and parent-reported outcomes.
  • Secondary medical outcomes, including length of hospitalization and medication usage, also showed no significant between-group differences.

Conclusions:

  • This multisite trial did not provide evidence for the significant benefit of the tested complementary interventions in the pediatric SCT population.
  • The study failed to demonstrate that massage, humor therapy, or relaxation/imagery improved distress or mood in children undergoing SCT.
  • Further investigation into alternative or refined supportive care strategies for pediatric SCT patients is warranted.
Abstract

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