The effectiveness of aromatherapy, massage and reflexology in people with palliative care needs: A systematic review.
Complementary therapies
anxiety
pain
palliative care
quality of life
systematic review
Journal
Palliative medicine
ISSN: 1477-030X
Titre abrégé: Palliat Med
Pays: England
ID NLM: 8704926
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
02 2020
02 2020
Historique:
pubmed:
30
10
2019
medline:
9
2
2021
entrez:
30
10
2019
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Aromatherapy, massage and reflexology are widely used in palliative care. Despite this, there are questions about their suitability for inclusion in clinical guidelines. The need to understand their benefits is a public priority, especially in light of funding pressures. To synthesise current evidence on the effectiveness of aromatherapy, massage and reflexology in people with palliative care needs. A systematic review of randomised controlled trials (PROSPERO CRD42017081409) was undertaken following international standards including Cochrane guidelines. The quality of trials and their pooled evidence were appraised. Primary outcomes on effect were anxiety, pain and quality-of-life. Eight citation databases and three trial registries were searched to June 2018. Twenty-two trials, involving 1956 participants were identified. Compared with a control, four evaluated aromatherapy, eight massage and six reflexology. A further four evaluated massage compared with aromatherapy. Trials were at an unclear risk of bias. Many had small samples. Heterogeneity prevented meta-analysis. In comparison with usual care, another therapy or an active control, evidence on the effectiveness of massage and aromatherapy in reducing anxiety, pain and improving quality-of-life was inconclusive. There was some evidence (low quality) that compared to an active control, reflexology reduced pain. This review identified a relatively large number of trials, but with poor and heterogeneous evidence. New clinical recommendations cannot be made based on current evidence. To help provide more definitive trial findings, it may be useful first to understand more about the best way to measure the effectiveness of these therapies in palliative care.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
Aromatherapy, massage and reflexology are widely used in palliative care. Despite this, there are questions about their suitability for inclusion in clinical guidelines. The need to understand their benefits is a public priority, especially in light of funding pressures.
AIM
To synthesise current evidence on the effectiveness of aromatherapy, massage and reflexology in people with palliative care needs.
DESIGN
A systematic review of randomised controlled trials (PROSPERO CRD42017081409) was undertaken following international standards including Cochrane guidelines. The quality of trials and their pooled evidence were appraised. Primary outcomes on effect were anxiety, pain and quality-of-life.
DATA SOURCES
Eight citation databases and three trial registries were searched to June 2018.
RESULTS
Twenty-two trials, involving 1956 participants were identified. Compared with a control, four evaluated aromatherapy, eight massage and six reflexology. A further four evaluated massage compared with aromatherapy. Trials were at an unclear risk of bias. Many had small samples. Heterogeneity prevented meta-analysis. In comparison with usual care, another therapy or an active control, evidence on the effectiveness of massage and aromatherapy in reducing anxiety, pain and improving quality-of-life was inconclusive. There was some evidence (low quality) that compared to an active control, reflexology reduced pain.
CONCLUSIONS
This review identified a relatively large number of trials, but with poor and heterogeneous evidence. New clinical recommendations cannot be made based on current evidence. To help provide more definitive trial findings, it may be useful first to understand more about the best way to measure the effectiveness of these therapies in palliative care.
Identifiants
pubmed: 31659939
doi: 10.1177/0269216319884198
pmc: PMC7000853
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Systematic Review
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
179-194Subventions
Organisme : Marie Curie
ID : MCCC-FCH-18-U
Pays : United Kingdom
Organisme : Marie Curie
ID : MCCC-FCO-11-U
Pays : United Kingdom
Organisme : Marie Curie
ID : MCRGS-07-16-36
Pays : United Kingdom
Organisme : Marie Curie
ID : MCCC-FPO-16-U
Pays : United Kingdom
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