European Journal of Cancer
Volume 46, Issue 2 , Pages 312-322 , January 2010

A randomised, controlled trial of the psychological effects of reflexology in early breast cancer

  • Donald M. Sharp

      Affiliations

    • The Institute of Rehabilitation, University of Hull, Kingston upon Hull, UK
    • Hull York Medical School, The University of Hull, Kingston upon Hull, UK
    • The Oncology Health Service, Queen’s Centre for Oncology and Haematology, Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, Kingston upon Hull, UK
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author: Address: The Institute of Rehabilitation, University of Hull, 215 Anlaby Road, Kingston upon Hull, East Yorkshire, HU3 2PG, UK. Tel.: +44 1482 675046; fax: +44 1482 675636.
  • ,
  • Mary B. Walker

      Affiliations

    • The Institute of Rehabilitation, University of Hull, Kingston upon Hull, UK
    • The Oncology Health Service, Queen’s Centre for Oncology and Haematology, Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, Kingston upon Hull, UK
  • ,
  • Amulya Chaturvedi

      Affiliations

    • Queen’s Centre for Oncology and Haematology, Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, Kingston upon Hull, UK
  • ,
  • Sunil Upadhyay

      Affiliations

    • Queen’s Centre for Oncology and Haematology, Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, Kingston upon Hull, UK
  • ,
  • Abdel Hamid

      Affiliations

    • Queen’s Centre for Oncology and Haematology, Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, Kingston upon Hull, UK
  • ,
  • Andrew A. Walker

      Affiliations

    • The Institute of Rehabilitation, University of Hull, Kingston upon Hull, UK
    • The Oncology Health Service, Queen’s Centre for Oncology and Haematology, Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, Kingston upon Hull, UK
  • ,
  • Julie S. Bateman

      Affiliations

    • The Oncology Health Service, Queen’s Centre for Oncology and Haematology, Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, Kingston upon Hull, UK
  • ,
  • Fiona Braid

      Affiliations

    • The Oncology Health Service, Queen’s Centre for Oncology and Haematology, Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, Kingston upon Hull, UK
  • ,
  • Karen Ellwood

      Affiliations

    • The Oncology Health Service, Queen’s Centre for Oncology and Haematology, Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, Kingston upon Hull, UK
  • ,
  • Claire Hebblewhite

      Affiliations

    • The Oncology Health Service, Queen’s Centre for Oncology and Haematology, Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, Kingston upon Hull, UK
  • ,
  • Teresa Hope

      Affiliations

    • The Oncology Health Service, Queen’s Centre for Oncology and Haematology, Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, Kingston upon Hull, UK
  • ,
  • Michael Lines

      Affiliations

    • The Oncology Health Service, Queen’s Centre for Oncology and Haematology, Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, Kingston upon Hull, UK
  • ,
  • Leslie G. Walker

      Affiliations

    • The Institute of Rehabilitation, University of Hull, Kingston upon Hull, UK
    • Hull York Medical School, The University of Hull, Kingston upon Hull, UK
    • The Oncology Health Service, Queen’s Centre for Oncology and Haematology, Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, Kingston upon Hull, UK

Received 10 June 2009 ,Revised 30 September 2009 ,Accepted 2 October 2009.

References 

  1. Hall A, A’Hern R, Fallowfield L. Are we using appropriate self-report questionnaires for detecting anxiety and depression in women with early breast cancer?. Eur J Cancer. 1999;35:79–85
  2. Burgess C, Cornelius V, Love S, et al. Depression and anxiety in women with early breast cancer: five year observational cohort study. BMJ. 2005;[published 4 February 2005]
  3. Baum M, Ernst E, Lejeune S, Horneber M. Role of complementary and alternative medicine in the care of patients with breast cancer: report of the European Society of Mastology (EUSOMA) Workshop, Florence, Italy, December 2004. Eur J Cancer. 2006;42:1702–1710
  4. Ernst E, Cassileth BR. The prevalence of complementary/alternative medicine in cancer: a systematic review. Cancer. 1998;83:777–782
  5. Maher EJ, Young T, Feigel I. Complementary therapies used by cancer patients. Br Med J. 1994;309:671–672
  6. Downer SM, Cody MM, McCluskey P, et al. Pursuit and practice of complementary therapies by cancer patients receiving conventional treatment. Br Med J. 1994;309:86–89
  7. Gerber B, Scolz C, Reimer T, et al. Complementary and alternative therapeutic approaches in patients with early breast cancer: a systematic review. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2006;95:199–209
  8. Buettner C, Kroenke CH, Phillips RS, et al. Correlates of different types of complementary and alternative medicine by breast cancer survivors in the nurses’ health study. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2006;100:219–227
  9. Dougans I. The complete illustrated guide to reflexology. Shaftsbury: Element Books; 1996;
  10. Norman L. The reflexology handbook; a complete guide. Bath: The Bath Press; 1988;
  11. Sharma U. Complementary medicine today. New York: Routledge; 1992;
  12. Wills P. The reflexology manual. London: Headline Book Publishing; 1995;
  13. Corner J, Harewood J, Maslin-Prothero S. A study of the use of complementary and alternative therapies among people undergoing cancer treatment: a quantitative and qualitative study. NHS R&D Programme. London: Department of Health, HMSO; 2006.
  14. Oleson T, Flocco W. Randomised controlled study of pre-menstrual symptoms treated with ear, hand and foot reflexology. Obstet Gynecol. 1993;82:906–911
  15. Wang XM. Treating type II diabetes mellitus with foot reflexotherapy. Chung-Kuo Chung His I Chieh Ho Tsa Chih. 1993;13:536–538
  16. Kovacs FM, Abraira V, Lopez-Abente G, Pozo F. Neuro-reflexotherapy intervention in the treatment of non-specific low back pain: a randomised, controlled, double blind clinical trial. Med Clin. 1993;101:570–575
  17. Quattrin R, Zanini A, Buchini S. Use of reflexology and foot massage to reduce anxiety in hospitalized cancer patients: methodology and outcomes. J Nurs Manag. 2006;14:96–105
  18. Benson H. The relaxation response. New York: Harpertorch; 2000;
  19. Walker LG, Walker MB, Heys SD, et al. The psychological, clinical and pathological effects of relaxation training and imagery during primary chemotherapy. Br J Cancer. 1999;80:262–268
  20. Frank JD, Frank JB. Persuasion and healing: a comparative study of psychotherapy. Baltimore: John Hopkins University Press; 1991;
  21. House of Commons Health Committee. Palliative Care Memorandum by Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust (PC 19); 2004.
  22. Walker LG, Walker MB, Sharp DM. The organisation of psychosocial support within palliative care. In:  Lloyd-Williams M editors. Psychosocial issues in palliative care. Oxford: Oxford University Press; 2003;
  23. Walker LG, Walker MB, Sharp DM. Psychosocial oncology services for women with breast cancer. Update Urol Gynaecol Sex Health. 2003;8:25–32
  24. Walker AA, Walker MB, Walker LG, Sharp DM. What happens to anxiety and depression in women with early breast cancer accessing an integrated Oncology Health Service?. Psychooncology. 2006;15:S452
  25. Walker LG, Walker MB, Anderson J, et al. Is quality of life better during primary CVAP or docetaxel chemotherapy?. Psychooncology. 1999;8:12
  26. Walker LG, Eremin JM, Vassanasiri W, et al. Quality of life during three-weekly versus weekly neoadjuvant docetaxel: a randomised trial. Psychooncology. 2006;15:S451
  27. Cella DF, Tulsky DS, Gray G, et al. The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Scale: development and validation of the general measure. J Clin Oncol. 1993;11:70–579
  28. Brady MJ, Cella DF, Mo F, et al. Reliability and validity of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy – Breast Quality of Life Instrument. J Clin Oncol. 1997;15:974–986
  29. Fallowfield L, Cella D, Cuzick J, et al. Quality of life of postmenopausal women in the arimadex, tamoxifen, alone or in combination (ATAC) adjuvant breast cancer trial. J Clin Oncol. 2004;21:4261–4271
  30. Anderson J, Walker MB, Swanson V, Walker LG. The Mood Rating Scale: a brief, acceptable, reliable and valid state measure of normal mood. Psychooncology. 2000;9:359
  31. Johnson VC, Walker LG, Whiting PH, et al. Can relaxation training and hypnotherapy modify the immune response to acute stress, and is hypnotisability relevant?. Contemp Hypnosis. 1996;13:100–108
  32. Walker LG, Walker MB, Heys SD, et al. The psychological and psychiatric effects of rIL-2: a controlled clinical trial. Psychooncology. 1997;6:290–301
  33. Wesnes KA, Walker MB, Heys SD, et al. What does a weekend ‘on call’ in a surgical ward do to cognitive performance and mood?. Br J Surg. 1997;84:493–495
  34. Zigmond AS, Snaith RP. The hospital anxiety and depression scale. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 1983;67:361–370
  35. Hermann C. International experiences with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale – a review of validation data and clinical results. J Psychosom Res. 1997;42:17–41
  36. Hopwood P, Howell A, Maguire P. Screening for psychiatric morbidity in patients with advanced breast cancer: validation of two self-report questionnaires. Br J Cancer. 1991;64:353–356
  37. Ibbotson T, Maguire P, Selby P, et al. Screening for anxiety and depression in cancer patients: the effects of disease and treatment. Eur J Cancer. 1994;33A:37–40
  38. Razavi D, Delvaux N, Farvacques C, Robaye E. Screening for adjustment disorders and major depressive disorders in cancer in-patients. Br J Psychiat. 1990;156:79–83
  39. APA . Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-IV-TR). Washington: American Psychiatric Association; 2000;
  40. Elashoff JD. nQuery advisor user’s guide. Los Angeles, CA: Dixon Associates; 2000;
  41. Vickers AJ, Altman DG. Statistics notes: analysing controlled trials with baseline and follow up measurements. Br Med J. 2001;10(323):1123–1124
  42. Eton DT, Cella D, Yost KJ, et al. A combination of distribution- and anchor-based approaches determined minimally important differences (MIDs) for four endpoints in a breast cancer scale. J Clin Epidemiol. 2004;57:898–910
  43. Corner J, Cawley N, Hildebrand S. An evaluation of the use of massage and essential oils on the wellbeing of cancer patientgs. Int J Paliat Nurs. 1995;1:67–73
  44. Fellowes D, Barnes K, Wilkinson S. Aromatherapy and massage for symptom relief in patients with cancer. The Cochrane Collaboration. John Wiley and Sons; 2006.
  45. Wilkinson SM, Love SB, Westcombe AM, et al. Effectiveness of aromatherapy massage in the management of anxiety and depression in patients with cancer: a multicentre randomised controlled trial. J Clin Oncol. 2007;25:532–539

 The study was registered with the International Standard Randomized Controlled Trial Registry (ISRCTN 87652313) (http://www.controlled-trials.com/).

PII: S0959-8049(09)00731-X

doi: 10.1016/j.ejca.2009.10.006

European Journal of Cancer
Volume 46, Issue 2 , Pages 312-322 , January 2010