Well-being treatments in cancer care: patient benefits

Authors: Buiret Guillaume, Lantheaume SophieJournal: BMJ supportive & palliative carePublished: January 8, 2024DOI: 10.1136/bmjspcare-2021-003458

Moderate EvidenceObservationaln=374 participants

Cancer Pain Management

In Plain Language: cancer pain, explained

Well-being care is widely offered and delivered in patients with cancer. However, very few studies have rigorously evaluated its benefits. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of four well-being treatments (foot reflexology, socio-aesthetics, sophrology and singing) provided in a healthcare facility. Three hundred and seventy-four patients with cancer were offered a well-being treatment and agreed to evaluate the type of treatment received, the benefits felt as a result, and numerical evaluation scales for pain and well-being before and after the session. The distribution of well-being treatments provided was as follows: foot reflexology: 19.0%, socio-aesthetics: 63.9%, sophrology: 6.7%, singing: 10.4%. The average gain in pain relief was 1.01 on a scale of 0-10 (p-5) and on well-being 6.97 on a scale of -10 to +10 (p-5). One patient (0.3%) experienced pain induced by a foot reflexology session and one patient (0.3%) experienced a deterioration in well-being following a singing session. The well-being treatments studied provided significant pain relief and increased well-being in patients with cancer after their completion.

Key Findings: what this observational study found about cancer pain

✓Among 374 cancer patients receiving well-being treatments, foot reflexology accounted for 19.0% of sessions delivered, with socio-aesthetics being the most commonly provided treatment at 63.9%.
✓Well-being treatments produced an average improvement of 6.97 points on a -10 to +10 well-being scale across all participants.
✓Adverse events from well-being treatments were rare, with only 0.3% of patients experiencing pain induced by foot reflexology and 0.3% experiencing deterioration in well-being.

What This Means for You

If you're undergoing cancer treatment, reflexology as part of well-being care shows promise for reducing pain and improving mood, though the evidence comes from a single observational study rather than rigorous controlled testing.

What This Means for Practitioners

Your reflexology sessions contribute to measurable pain relief and well-being improvements in cancer patients, though document outcomes carefully and be aware that a small percentage may experience discomfort or worsening symptoms.

Study Design: how this observational study was run

Sample Size

374 participants

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Cancer pain: common questions

What does this study say about cancer pain?

What did this study find?

Among 374 cancer patients receiving well-being treatments, foot reflexology accounted for 19.0% of sessions delivered, with socio-aesthetics being the most commonly provided treatment at 63.9%. Well-being treatments produced an average improvement of 6.97 points on a -10 to +10 well-being scale across all participants. Adverse events from well-being treatments were rare, with only 0.3% of patients experiencing pain induced by foot reflexology and 0.3% experiencing deterioration in well-being.

How strong is this evidence?

This is a observational study and we rate its evidence moderate. It covers 374 participants. It was published in BMJ supportive & palliative care. This study is indexed here for context; it did not test reflexology itself.