Impact of Massage Therapy on the Quality of Life of Hospice Patients and Their Caregivers: A Pilot Study.

Impact of Massage Therapy on the Quality of Life of Hospice Patients and Their Caregivers: A Pilot Study. J Palliat Care. 2020 Nov 19;:825859720975991 Authors: Havyer RD, Lapid MI, Dockter TJ, McCue SA, Stelpflug AJ, Bigelow ML, Robsahm MM, Elwood T, Strand JJ, Bauer BA, Cutshall SM, Sloan JA, Walton MP, Whitford KJ Abstract Evidence for massage therapy (MT) in hospice patients remains limited. We conducted a prospective pilot study on MTs impact on quality of life of hospice patients and caregivers. Patient-caregiver dyads were enrolled if patients scored ≥5 on pain, depression, anxiety, or well-being using the revised Edmonton Symptom Assessment System Revised (ESAS-r). The patient received MT weekly for up to 3 massages with assessments completed at baseline, after each massage, and 1 week after the final massage for patients and at baseline and 1 week after final massage for caregivers. A satisfaction survey was completed at study completion. A pro-rated area under the curve (AUC) was utilized to assess the primary endpoints of change in ESAS-r for patient ratings of pain, depression and anxiety as well as the Linear Analogue Self-Assessment (LASA). Median difference scores (end of study value)-(baseline value) for each participant and caregiver were calculated. Of 27 patients and caregivers enrolled, 25 patients received MT. Fifteen patients completed all 3 MT sessions and were given the final symptom assessment and satisfacti...
Source: Journal of Palliative Care - Category: Palliative Care Tags: J Palliat Care Source Type: research