This Article Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 1043454208323295v1 26/1/16    most recent References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Post-White, J. Articles by Sencer, S. F. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Post-White, J. Articles by Sencer, S. F. Pubmed/NCBI databases Medline Plus Health Information Cancer Cancer Alternative Therapies Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Massage Therapy for Children With Cancer

University of Minnesota, postw001{at}umn.edu

Maura Fitzgerald, MS, MA, RN, CNS

integrative medicine at Children's Hospital and Clinics of Minnesota

Kay Savik, MS

University of Minnesota School of Nursing

Mary C. Hooke, MS, RN, CPON

hematology/oncology at Children's Hospital and Clinics of Minnesota

Anne B. Hannahan, MA, RN, LP

Susan F. Sencer, MD

hematology/oncology at Children's Hospital and Clinics of Minnesota

This pilot study aimed to determine the feasibility of providing massage to children with cancer to reduce symptoms in children and anxiety in parents. Twenty-three children/parent dyads were enrolled; 17 completed all data points. Children with cancer, ages 1 to 18 years, received at least 2 identical cycles of chemotherapy, and one parent, participated in the 2-period crossover design in which 4 weekly massage sessions alternated with 4 weekly quiet-time control sessions. Changes in relaxation (heart and respiratory rates, blood pressure, and salivary cortisol level) and symptoms (pain, nausea, anxiety, and fatigue) were assessed in children; anxiety and fatigue were measured in parents. Massage was more effective than quiet time at reducing heart rate in children, anxiety in children less than age 14 years, and parent anxiety. There were no significant changes in blood pressure, cortisol, pain, nausea, or fatigue. Children reported that massage helped them feel better, lessened their anxiety and worries, and had longer lasting effects than quiet time. Massage in children with cancer is feasible and appears to decrease anxiety in parents and younger children.

Key Words: Key words: massage • cancer • children • cortisol • symptoms • parent massage

This version was published on January 1, 2009

Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing, Vol. 26, No. 1, 16-28 (2009)
DOI: 10.1177/1043454208323295


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?