Feasibility and safety of combined touch care and aromatherapy in hospitalized patients with thoracic malignancies: A prospective single-arm study.
The combined intervention of touch care and aromatherapy was feasible and safe for hospitalized patients with thoracic malignancies undergoing cancer treatment.
Where it sits
this study against the rest of the thymalin (thymus extract) corpusSummary and findings
This study evaluated the feasibility and safety of combining touch care with aromatherapy in hospitalized patients with thoracic malignancies. A total of 90 patients were enrolled, and 87 completed the intervention. Minor adverse events were reported in 5 patients (5.7%).
Abstract
<h4>Objective</h4>This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and safety of combining touch care with aromatherapy in hospitalized patients with thoracic malignancies.<h4>Methods</h4>Patients hospitalized in the thoracic oncology department at Shizuoka Cancer Center who had undergone chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or best supportive care were considered eligible for this prospective single-arm feasibility study. The intervention involved 20 minutes of touch care applied to the feet, following a manual from the Japan Sweden Care Institute, combined with aromatherapy, using a sachet of aroma beads soaked in essential oil placed on the chest of each patient throughout the session. The feasibility was assessed based on the proportion of patients completing the intervention. Safety was monitored by reporting adverse events, intervention-related discomfort, and abstention. Changes in subjective physical and emotional status before and after the intervention were assessed using questionnaires, while changes in physiological parameters were evaluated through heart rate variability frequency analysis and salivary stress hormone levels.<h4>Results</h4>Among the 90 enrolled patients, 87 were evaluable and all completed the intervention. Regarding safety, intervention-related adverse event or discomfort was observed in 5 patients (5.7%), all of which were minor. Five of the six subjective physical and emotional status items significantly improved before and after the intervention. Physiological assessments showed an increase in parasympathetic nervous system activity, with significant reductions in salivary <i>α</i>-amylase and cortisol levels. No exacerbation of preexisting symptoms was observed.<h4>Conclusions</h4>The combined intervention of touch care and aromatherapy was feasible and safe for hospitalized patients with thoracic malignancies undergoing cancer treatment.
Background
This paper addresses the integration of complementary therapies in oncology, specifically the combination of touch care and aromatherapy for patients with thoracic malignancies. Previous studies have suggested potential benefits of such interventions in improving patient comfort and emotional well-being. This study is significant as it explores the feasibility and safety of these approaches in a hospitalized population undergoing cancer treatment.
Methods
This was a prospective single-arm feasibility study conducted in the thoracic oncology department at Shizuoka Cancer Center. A total of 90 patients were enrolled, with 87 evaluable participants who had undergone chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or best supportive care. The intervention consisted of 20 minutes of touch care applied to the feet, combined with aromatherapy using essential oils placed on the chest. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients completing the intervention, while secondary outcomes included adverse events, subjective status changes, and physiological assessments.
Results
Among the 90 enrolled patients, 87 were evaluable and all completed the intervention. Intervention-related adverse events or discomfort were reported in 5 patients (5.7%), all classified as minor. Five of the six subjective physical and emotional status items showed significant improvement before and after the intervention. Physiological assessments indicated increased parasympathetic nervous system activity, with significant reductions in salivary α-amylase and cortisol levels.
Interpretation
The findings suggest that the combined intervention of touch care and aromatherapy is feasible and safe for hospitalized patients with thoracic malignancies. While the study reports statistically significant improvements in subjective measures and physiological parameters, the clinical significance of these findings remains uncertain due to the absence of a control group and the small sample size. The lack of blinding and the single-arm design may also confound the results.
Key findings
- All 87 evaluable patients completed the intervention.
- Intervention-related adverse events or discomfort were observed in 5 patients (5.7%), all minor.
- Five of six subjective physical and emotional status items significantly improved before and after the intervention.
- Significant reductions in salivary α-amylase and cortisol levels were observed.
Limitations
- Single-arm design with no control group.
- Small sample size (n=90, evaluable n=87).
- Short duration of intervention.
- Potential for bias due to lack of blinding.