Currin, J., & Meister, E.A. (2008). A hospital-based intervention using massage to reduce distress among oncology patients. Cancer Nursing, 31(3), 214–221.

To determine if 15 minutes of therapeutic massage is associated with reduction in patient-expressed levels of pain, fatigue, and emotional and physical distress during hospitalization

Patients were recruited over a three-year period. The same social worker assessed the four domains of distress evaluated; assessments were done pre- and postmassage. All patients served as their own controls. Before the massage, the massage therapist asked the patient which parts of the body to massage. The most frequently chosen area was feet and legs or back, neck, and shoulders. The massage therapist provided each patient with a 10–15 minute Swedish massage. A CD player provided the same music to all patients.

• The sample was composed of 251 patients.
• Mean patient age was 59.4 years. The age range was 20–80 years.
• The percentage of male patients was 30.3%. The percentage of female patients was 69.7%.
• The sample included a broad distribution of cancer sites.
• Of all patients, 68.9% were white, 29.1% were Black; 2% self-identified as belonging to an ethnic group.

• Single site
• Inpatient
• University hospital in Georgia, United States

Observational

The study used MacDonald’s scale, modified, for patient evaluation of massage therapy (rating on a 1–5 point Likert scale, Cronbach's alpha = 0.850).

Authors found significant reductions relating to each of the four dimensions measured. Mean pain scores declined (p = 0.000, effect size = 0.7270), fatigue scores declined (p = 0.000, effect size = 0.714), physical distress declined (p =.000, effect size = 0.756), and emotional distress declined (p = 0.000, effect size = 0.6810). Posthoc analysis did not reveal that the main effect was affected by interactions with possible covariates.

Results demonstrated that massage therapy was associated with reduction of physical and emotional distress, pain, and fatigue in a broad range of hospitalized patients.

• The study did not have an appropriate control group.
• The authors noted that a large proportion of patients refused to participate. Males were more likely to refuse participation than females. This suggests that some patients have preconceptions about massage or privacy concerns regarding human touch. The study may have a risk of bias due to selection bias.
• Postintervention assessments were performed immediately after the intervention. They do not reflect how long perceived benefits lasted.
• The sample consisted of hospitalized patients, but authors provided no information about phase of care or whether patients were hospitalized for comorbid conditions.

Nurses must consider the possibility that patients have preconceptions or privacy concerns regarding massage therapy. Authors suggested that some patients might be more comfortable with the intervention if it were called a back rub rather than a massage. Nurses in settings that offer massage should incorporate information about the intervention and allow patients to discuss their preconceptions and concerns. Findings suggest that a brief massage can relieve distress during hospitalization. Nurses should consider reinstituting the back rub as a standard nursing intervention.