ArticleSupportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer2009
The existential experiences of receiving soft tissue massage in palliative home care--an intervention.
Article in Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer, 2009. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 14 papers, 4 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
14 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 41 citations in OpenAlex.
- Complementary therapy in palliative care: A synthesis of qualitative and quantitative systematic reviews.Palliative medicine · 2020Pooled it
- The effectiveness of aromatherapy, massage and reflexology in people with palliative care needs: A systematic review.Palliative medicine · 2020Pooled it
- Aromatherapy, massage and reflexology: A systematic review and thematic synthesis of the perspectives from people with palliative care needs.Palliative medicine · 2019Pooled it
- Strategies for Implementing Palliative Care Services for Cancer Patients in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review.Inquiry : a journal of medical care organization, provision and financingPooled it
- Swedish massage as an adjunct approach to Help suppOrt individuals Pregnant after Experiencing a prior Stillbirth (HOPES): feasibility and acceptability findings from a convergent parallel mixed-methods single-arm trial.BMC complementary medicine and therapies · 2026Trial
- A qualitative study-Patient experience of tactile massage after stroke.Nursing open · 2020Trial
- Endocannabinoids and related lipids in blood plasma following touch massage: a randomised, crossover study.BMC research notes · 2015Trial
- A Qualitative Scoping Review of Massage and Massage Therapy on the Mental Health and Well-being of Individuals Living with a Serious and Potentially Life-limiting Physical Illness.International journal of therapeutic massage & bodywork · 2025Article
- The Benefits of Caring MassageNursing reports (Pavia, Italy) · 2025Article
- Person-centred care in oncological home services: a scoping review of patients' and caregivers' experience and needs.BMC health services research · 2025Article
- Similarities and differences between China and Sweden regarding the core features of palliative care for people aged 60 or older: a systematic scoping review.BMC palliative care · 2022Article
- Positive Massage: An Intervention for Couples' Wellbeing in a Touch-Deprived Era.European journal of investigation in health, psychology and education · 2021Article
- Body Awareness: a phenomenological inquiry into the common ground of mind-body therapies.Philosophy, ethics, and humanities in medicine : PEHM · 2011Article
- A qualitative meta-synthesis examining spirituality as experienced by individuals living with terminal cancer.Health psychology openReview
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors at 4 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundSoft tissue massage is currently used in palliative care for the relief of anxiety and pain. Only few studies have focused on patients' deeper experience of receiving the massage.
aimThe purpose of this study was to explore how patients with cancer in palliative home care experienced soft tissue massage. MATERIALS AND
methodsTwenty-two patients received soft tissue massage (hand or foot) nine times over a period of 2 weeks. Each session lasted for 25 min. Following the last massage session, a qualitative interview was conducted. The analysis was performed using a hermeneutic approach.
findingsSoft tissue massage generated feelings of existential respite with perceptions of being released from illness for a while. Two categories constituted the basis of the experiences: (1) "an experience of thoughtful attention" and (2) "a sensation of complete tranquility" resulting in the overarching theme "A time of existential respite."
conclusionThe patients experienced the massage to give meaning and to be important as it generated feelings of an inner respite. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Soft tissue massage appears to be an appreciated source of support to dying patients in palliative home care. The method is easy to comprehend and relatively short (25 min) which may imply that it is a suitable complement in nursing care for this patient group.
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