The feasibility of caregiver-delivered massage program for cancer patients undergoing palliative care

INTERVENTION: Before the intervention, dyads (pairs of caregivers and cancer patients) will be randomized into intervention or wait‐list control group. Each group will have 20 dyads. Double‐blind randomization will be carried out for the purpose of subject allocation. A computer‐generated randomization scheme with block sizes of 4 will be carried out by a research staff independent of the research team. Group allocation will be concealed by using consecutively numbered opaque sealed envelopes which will be opened after consents are obtained from the dyads. The intervention involved in this study is a caregiver‐delivered massage program, which is going to last for three weeks. During the intervention, family caregivers will be asked to follow the intervention protocol and provide the gentle massage to upper extremities of their corresponding patients 3 times per week for approximately 15‐20 minutes per session. Participants allocated to the wait‐list control group will only receive the massage intervention after the participants in the intervention group have completed the massage intervention. CONDITION: Terminal cancer ; Cancer PRIMARY OUTCOME: 1. Distress levels of patients and family caregivers will be measured using the distress thermometer, a visual analogue scale used to evaluate psychological distress at baseline and 3 weeks; 2. Symptom burden will be measured using the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System at baseline and 3 weeks; 3. Sleep quality of both patients and caregivers will be evaluated by the use of a wrist‐worn sleep tracking device which will monitor the various sleep parameters of the participants, including total sleep time, sleep latency, sleep efficiency, immobility time, mean activity score, and number of awakening at baseline and 3 weeks; 4. Quality of life of patients will be measured using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire‐Core 15‐Palliative Care (EORTC QLQ‐C15‐PAL). Quality of life of family caregivers will be measured using the Short Form 12 Health Survey Questionnaire (SF12v2) at baseline and 3 weeks; 5. Perceived preparedness of family caregivers will be measured using the Preparedness for caregiving scale, while their perceived competence will be measured using the Caregiving Competence Scale at baseline and 3 weeks SECONDARY OUTCOME: 1. Recruitment rate; 2. Retention rate; 3. Participant compliance to the intervention; 4. Participant satisfaction INCLUSION CRITERIA: Patients: 1. Aged 18 or above 2. Diagnosed with cancer 3. Able to communicate in Chinese 4. Staying at home 5. Willing to comply with the proposed intervention Family caregivers: 1. Aged 18 or above 2. Able to communicate in Chinese 3. Willing to comply with the proposed intervention