Advances in mind-body medicine
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Massage for perioperative pain and anxiety in placement of vascular access devices.
Despite major advances in cancer treatment, many patients undergo painful procedures during treatment and suffer debilitating side effects as well as report a decrease in quality of life (QOL). This problem is exacerbated for low-income, racial, and ethnic minorities with cancer. Minority cancer patients often enter care with larger tumors and with a more aggressive disease, increasing the risk of debilitating symptoms, such as pain and anxiety. Researchers have never assessed the feasibility and effectiveness of offering massage therapy for low-income, underserved cancer patients who are undergoing port insertion. ⋯ Recruitment of low-income, minority patients into an RCT of massage therapy for perioperative pain and anxiety is feasible. Both massage therapy and structured attention proved beneficial for alleviating preoperative anxiety in cancer patients undergoing port placement.