Abstract 3869
Background
Children and adolescents with cancer are at risk of experiencing distress in relation to their cancer diagnosis, treatment and treatment-related procedures. Complementary therapies such as reflexology may be used to help alleviate distressing symptoms; however, there is a dearth of research regarding the experience of reflexology from the perspective of children/adolescents with cancer and/or the parents/guardians of those who have received these treatments. Objective: To ascertain the perceptions of parents/guardians regarding their child/adolescent’s experience of reflexology or non-specific foot massage.
Methods
Children and adolescents aged between 7 and 18 years attending a national children’s hospital for cancer treatment were invited to participate in a randomised controlled trial using a Mixed Between Group Repeated Measures design following receipt of ethical approval from the hospital’s Research Ethics Committee. In total, 75 children/adolescents either consented or assented to take part in the study. Of these, 39 were randomized to the intervention group (reflexology) and 36 to the control group (non-specific foot massage). Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with parents/guardians using an interview guide. Interviews were analysed using Braun and Clarke’s (2006) thematic analysis.
Results
The overarching theme which emerged across the interviews was participants’ perceptions of the foot treatments in general as a means of supporting the child during treatment for cancer. This central theme is discussed under a number of subthemes, namely psychological wellbeing, perceived physiological impact, time and space, a safe relationship and service development.
Conclusions
The parents/guardians views regarding the foot treatments in general were consistently positive. The implications of the study findings and the future delivery of the complementary therapy service will be discussed.
Clinical trial identification
Editorial acknowledgement
Legal entity responsible for the study
UCD.
Funding
Childhood Cancer Foundation.
Disclosure
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.
Resources from the same session
1945 - Randomized Phase II Study of Trabectedin/Olaparib Compared to Physician’s Choice in Subjects with Previously Treated Advanced or Recurrent Solid Tumors Harboring DNA Repair Deficiencies.
Presenter: Christoph Heilig
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
3021 - Homogenisation of Leftover Surgical Tissue across multiple cancer types: a Feasibility Study (HoLST-F)
Presenter: Lavinia Spain
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
2882 - Safety, efficacy, and immune effects of intratumoral tilsotolimod in patients with refractory solid tumors: updated results from ILLUMINATE-101
Presenter: Hani Babiker
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
1950 - Phase 1 Dose Escalation of MSC-1, a humanized anti-LIF monoclonal antibody, in patients (pts) with advanced solid tumors: Updated results
Presenter: Erkut Borazanci
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
2391 - A phase 1 study of Sym021, an anti-PD-1 antibody (Ab), alone and in combination with Sym022 (anti-LAG-3) or Sym023 (anti-TIM-3)
Presenter: Anna Spreafico
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
5692 - FPA150 (B7-H4 antibody) Phase 1 Update in Advanced Solid Tumors: Monotherapy and in Combination with Pembrolizumab
Presenter: Zev Wainberg
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
2416 - MG1124, a novel CEACAM1-targeted monoclonal antibody, has therapeutic potential as a combination partner of PD-1 inhibitors in NSCLC patients
Presenter: Eun Hee Lee
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
2661 - Tumor stroma targeting and modulation by OMTX705 ADC, a novel and potent immunotherapeutic treatment of solid tumors.
Presenter: Myriam Fabre
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
3681 - Durvalumab + monalizumab, mFOLFOX6, and bevacizumab in patients (pts) with metastatic microsatellite-stable colorectal cancer (MSS-CRC)
Presenter: May Cho
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
2664 - Phase (Ph) II study of MBG453 + spartalizumab in patients (pts) with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and melanoma pretreated with anti–PD-1/L1 therapy
Presenter: Nicholas Mach
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract