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Massage in children with cancer: effectiveness of a protocol
Luís Manuel da Cunha Batalha1, Aida A S C Mota
1Escola Superior de Enfermagem de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
Insights
Massage therapy may help reduce pain in children with cancer. This study found that massage sessions decreased pain intensity and improved children's ability to walk, contributing to overall well-being.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Oncology
- Pain Management
- Complementary Therapies
Background:
- Empirical evidence on massage for cancer pain relief is limited and inconsistent.
- Hospitalized children with cancer often experience significant pain.
- Assessing effective, non-pharmacological pain interventions is crucial for this population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of a specific massage protocol for pain relief in pediatric cancer patients.
- To determine the impact of massage on pain intensity and functional interference in hospitalized children with cancer.
Main Methods:
- A randomized, controlled, single-blind trial involving 52 children (10-18 years) in a pediatric cancer ward.
- Intervention: A massage protocol of three 20-30 minute sessions over one week.
- Pain assessment using the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS).
Main Results:
- The massage protocol significantly reduced pain interference with walking (p<0.05).
- Massage contributed to alleviating pain and its impact on children's daily activities.
- Significant decrease in pain intensity after each massage session (p<0.001).
Conclusions:
- Massage therapy shows promise as a beneficial intervention for reducing pain in pediatric cancer patients.
- While effective for pain intensity and some functional aspects, further research on this specific protocol is warranted.
- The authors recommend massage for its positive contribution to children's well-being and quality of life.
Objectives:
massage can help relieve pain, although empirical evidence is scarce and contradictory. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of a massage protocol in relieving pain in children hospitalized with cancer.
Methods:
a randomized, controlled, and single-blind trial was performed in a sample of 52 children aged between 10 and 18 years who were hospitalized in a pediatric cancer ward. The intervention consisted of the implementation of a massage protocol with three sessions of 20 to 30minutes on alternate days over a one-week period. The effectiveness of the protocol was evaluated by assessing pain using the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), while the effectiveness of each massage session was measured using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS).
Results:
the massage protocol was only effective in reducing the interference of pain in walking (p<0.05), although it also contributed to relieve pain and its impact on the children's activities. After each massage session, the intensity of the pain experienced by the child decreased (p<0.001).
Conclusions:
despite the small sample size, massage therapy appears to be a useful intervention in reducing pain in children with cancer. However, there are still questions regarding the effectiveness of this massage protocol. The authors recommend its use due to its contribution to the promotion of the child's well-being and quality of life.
