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
1121 - Experiences of endocrine therapy after breast cancer surgery
Presenter: Susanne Ahlstedt Karlsson
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
2305 - The effects of progressive muscle relaxation and mindfulness meditation on fatigue, coping styles, and quality of life in breast cancer patients receiving adjuvant paclitaxel regimen: An-assessor blinded, three-arm randomized controlled trial
Presenter: Zehra Gok Metin
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
4561 - Agreement between breast cancer patients and oncologists on the severity of patients’ symptoms and functions during a one-year follow-up after treatment.
Presenter: Randi Reidunsdatter
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
1768 - Taste Changes and Associated Factors in Patients Receiving Chemotherapy
Presenter: Gulcan Bagcivan
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
1830 - CART-19: a comparative between literature versus experience
Presenter: Cassandra Andersson Vila
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
4027 - Unplanned emergency department use by people receiving ambulatory anti-cancer agents with potential febrile neutropenia
Presenter: Meritxell Casanovas-Blanco
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
4754 - Examining the benefits of medical exercise during radiotherapy in patients after mastectomy
Presenter: Nikolina Dodlek
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
2510 - Assessment Quality of Life with Hand-Foot Syndrome Induced by Apatinib Combined with Anti-PD-1 Therapy in NSCLC
Presenter: Qi Jiang
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
2989 - Adverse effects of chemotherapy influence the patients’ quality of life : Analysis of implicated factors
Presenter: Maria Lavdaniti
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
3117 - A modified Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale for assessing symptoms in one day chemotherapy clinic
Presenter: Anjuleta Kampitsi
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract