BACKGROUND: Small studies of variable quality suggest that massage therapy may relieve pain and other symptoms.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of massage for decreasing pain and symptom distress and improving quality of life among persons with advanced cancer.
DESIGN: Multisite, randomized clinical trial.
SETTING: Population-based Palliative Care Research Network.
PATIENTS: 380 adults with advanced cancer who were experiencing moderate-to-severe pain; 90% were enrolled in hospice.
INTERVENTION: Six 30-minute massage or simple-touch sessions over 2 weeks.
MEASUREMENTS: Primary outcomes were immediate (Memorial Pain Assessment Card, 0- to 10-point scale) and sustained (Brief Pain Inventory [BPI], 0- to 10-point scale) change in pain. Secondary outcomes were immediate change in mood (Memorial Pain Assessment Card) and 60-second heart and respiratory rates and sustained change in quality of life (McGill Quality of Life Questionnaire, 0- to 10-point scale), symptom distress (Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale, 0- to 4-point scale), and analgesic medication use (parenteral morphine equivalents [mg/d]). Immediate outcomes were obtained just before and after each treatment session. Sustained outcomes were obtained at baseline and weekly for 3 weeks.
Derived variable definitions
Additional citations:
- Kutner J, Smith M, Mellis K, Felton S, Yamashita T, Corbin L. Methodological Challenges in Conducting a Multi-Site Randomized Clinical Trial of Massage Therapy in Hospice. Journal of Palliative Medicine. 2010;13(6):739-744.
- O'Bryant CL, Linnebur SA, Yamashita TE, Kutner JS. Inconsistencies in opioid equianalgesic ratios: clinical and research implications. J Pain Palliat Care Pharmacother. 2008;22(4):282-90.
- Smith MC, Yamashita TE, Bryant LL, Hemphill L, Kutner JS. Providing massage therapy for people with advanced cancer: what to expect. J Altern Complement Med. 2009 Apr;15(4):367-71.
- Corbin LW, Mellis BK, Beaty BL, Kutner JS. The Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Therapies by Patients with Advanced Cancer and Pain in a Hospice Setting: A Multicentered, Descriptive Study. Journal of Palliative Medicine. 2009;12(1):7-8.