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Supportive Care / Symptom Management (Prevention of Cancer Morbidity)

Projects and Investigators

Reflexology: an Intervention for Advanced Breast Cancer

Program Description:

The goal of this study is to test a complementary therapy intervention that will assist in improving quality of life (QOL) for women undergoing chemotherapy for late stage (III and IV) breast cancer within the context of conventional medical care. This longitudinal randomized clinical trial (RCT) will test a three-group design in which participants will continue to receive conventional care. Two groups of the study will involve a single blinded four-week protocol: Group A will receive reflexology (a specialized foot therapy) from a certified reflexologist; Group B will receive placebo sessions from a research aide. The control group (Group C) will receive conventional medical care alone. The specific aims are: 1) to determine if women who receive either Groups (A or B) of an experimental protocol (reflexology or placebo) report significantly better QOL outcomes (total and subscale) at 7 weeks, 13 weeks, and longitudinally over time, relative to women receiving conventional care alone (Group C); 2) to determine if women who receive Group A of an experimental protocol (reflexology), report significantly better QOL outcomes (total and subscales) at 7 weeks, 13 weeks, and longitudinally over time, relative to women receiving Group B (placebo); 3) to determine if women who receive either Group A or B of an experimental protocol (reflexology or placebo), report significant differences on Intermediate Indicators (physical and emotional), at 7 weeks, 13 weeks, and longitudinally over time, relative to women receiving conventional care alone; and 4) to determine if the Intermediate Indicators mediate the group effect on the QOL outcomes (total and subscales) at 7 weeks. This research is relevant because it addresses the high use of complementary therapies by cancer patients, and has the potential of leading to an enhanced system of care through the integration of conventional and scientifically-based complementary therapies. It also focuses on advanced disease which is currently under investigated in terms of supportive care measures. Finally, this study utilizes an improved design over existing work. It is a RCT with adequate numbers to detect group differences, and could ultimately serve as a model for rigorous investigation of other complementary therapies.