The massage in children with cancer: Effectiveness of a protocol

INTERVENTION: Children and adolescents hospitalized in a pediatric oncology department aged 10 to 18 years with a diagnostic disease and treatment (chemotherapy, antibiotics or steroids) were randomly divided into two groups (control and intervention). The children in the intervention group (GI) were subjected to a protocol consisting of three massage sessions in alternative days, during a week (day 1, 3 and 5). The massage technique consisted of gliding movements, light compression and the use of heated sweet almond oil. Each session lasted between twenty and thirty minutes. Control group (CG) received usual care. Finally, the efficacy of the protocol was measured by analyzing the differences between the results at the beginning (day 0) and the results at the end of protocol (day 6) by evaluating the pain and their interference in the activities of children. CONDITION: Relief of pain in children with cancer through massage ; Cancer ; Malignant neoplasm, unspecified PRIMARY OUTCOME: The pain is measured by using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), scored (0 = no pain, 10 = unbearable pain) and physical functioning, assessed by the Brief Pain Inventory scales (BPI), scored numerical rating scale (0 = without interferences in the activity, 10 = the maxim interference) at the beginning (day 0) and at the end of protocol (day 6). SECONDARY OUTCOME: Pain intensity by the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scored (0 = no pain, 10 = unbearable pain) was assessed in a break of half‐hour at the beginning and the end of each session massage. INCLUSION CRITERIA: Children between 10 and 18 years old hospitalized in a pediatric department with a diagnostic with cancer and treatment (chemotherapy, antibiotics or steroids)