Massage for Pediatric Oncology

This study is a pilot randomized controlled feasibility trial of an augmented massage intervention, compared to a usual-care control group, in which intervention group participants will receive up to 3 massage sessions per week, during the 4-6 hospitalization at UCSF for Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT).

Participants will be approximately 24 children recruited from consecutive sample of pediatric cancer and non-cancer patients undergoing BMT age 5 to 18 admitted to UCSF children's hospital during one calendar year.

Intervention: Massage sessions will be gentle Swedish style combine with acupressure and will range from 20-45 minutes, provided by credentialed and trained massage therapists; augmentation will involve massage training for the resident parent, who rooms with the patient, to administer massage to his/her child during the course of the hospital stay. The control group will receive standard-care.

We will collect feasibility data and do exploratory comparison of clinical outcomes between groups.

Knowledge to be gained: We will have preliminary data for a larger trial that will determine whether an augmented massage intervention can support symptom management in the pediatric BMT unit.

B. Hypothesis(es): Briefly explain the hypothesis(es) to be tested. If the study is not designed to test a hypothesis, simply state "None." Hypothesis 1a: >60% of Patients are willing to be randomized to the massage study.

Hypothesis 1b: 80% of patients randomized to massage will accept the massage intervention when offered.

Hypothesis 1c: The majority of parents (>60%) are willing to learn massage techniques for use on their children.

Hypothesis 2a: Professional massage providers will be able to deliver massage, negotiating schedule, space, time, and other patient-related medical activities and will be able to schedule >50% of planned massages.

Hypothesis 2b: Massage providers will be able to assess the acceptable time period for massage (between 10 minutes and 45 minutes).

Hypothesis 2c: Parents will carry out the massage on their children, will do at least 5 massages over the study period and are willing to provide a self-report of estimated time engaged in massage.

Hypothesis 3a: 80% of patients will answer survey questions about their experience in general and the massage intervention.

Hypothesis 3b: The RA will be able to collect clinical data from chart review and electronically stored lab data .

Hypothesis 3c: 80% of parents will answer survey questions about their experience in learning and delivering massage, stress, mood, PTSD symptoms and self-efficacy around patient management.

Inclusion criteria

• Being 5 to 18 years old
• Admitted for BMT.

Rationale: This is a pediatric study for children up to age 18 admitted to the BMT unit. Questionnaires are not designed for children under age 5.

Exclusion criteria

• Parent or child unable to answer questionnaire due to language limitations.

Rationale: The pilot character of the study with its limited budget does not include instruments in foreign languages, such as Chinese or Spanish. This could be a project for further studies.