Complementary therapy in practice
Preliminary EvidenceIn Plain Language: cancer pain, explained
Dorothy Crowther describes the evolution of the Wirral Holistic Care Services, a company dedicated to helping people cope with cancer. Based on a recognition that such patients want more than the standard NHS fare, initial evaluations suggest that the company is going some way to meeting the extra needs of this group. Available therapies include aromatherapy, kinesiology, reflexology and meditation, incorporating a model of care which endorses putting the patient first.
Key Findings: what this observational study found about cancer pain
- ✓Wirral Holistic Care Services offers complementary therapies including reflexology, aromatherapy, kinesiology, and meditation to help cancer patients cope beyond standard NHS treatment.
- ✓Initial evaluations indicate that holistic care services successfully meet additional psychosocial needs that cancer patients desire beyond conventional medical care.
- ✓A patient-centered care model that prioritizes individual needs is central to the delivery of complementary therapies in cancer care settings.
What This Means for You
If you're considering reflexology as part of cancer care, this describes a real-world service offering it alongside other therapies, though the evidence presented is based on initial observations rather than rigorous testing.
What This Means for Practitioners
Positioning reflexology within a holistic, patient-centered care model that addresses emotional and supportive needs alongside conventional treatment may help attract and serve cancer patients seeking complementary approaches.
Cancer pain: common questions
What does this study say about cancer pain?
If you're considering reflexology as part of cancer care, this describes a real-world service offering it alongside other therapies, though the evidence presented is based on initial observations rather than rigorous testing.
What did this study find?
Wirral Holistic Care Services offers complementary therapies including reflexology, aromatherapy, kinesiology, and meditation to help cancer patients cope beyond standard NHS treatment. Initial evaluations indicate that holistic care services successfully meet additional psychosocial needs that cancer patients desire beyond conventional medical care. A patient-centered care model that prioritizes individual needs is central to the delivery of complementary therapies in cancer care settings.
How strong is this evidence?
This is a observational study and we rate its evidence preliminary. It was published in Nursing standard (Royal College of Nursing (Great Britain) : 1987), a Q2 journal. This study is indexed here for context; it did not test reflexology itself.
Related Research
Engaging Patients in Research That Involves Meditation: Religious Concerns and Nursing Implications
Improving Quality of Life in The Constipated Older Person: Reflexology or Abdominal Massage? A Two-Group, Randomized Comparative Trial
Mind-Body Interventions for People With Cancer: Evidence, Innovation, and Implementation
Therapeutic Massage for Cancer Survivors: An Umbrella Review
A Service Evaluation of Heisei Shiatsu Massage as an Adjunct to the Pharmacological Management of Cancer Pain
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