A randomised controlled trial to assess the effectiveness of massage for chronic pain

INTERVENTION: Intervention: 15 min massage Control intervention: 15 min talk with a nurse about their pain CONDITION: Chronic non‐malignant pain ; Signs and Symptoms ; Chronic non‐malignant pain PRIMARY OUTCOME: 1. Pain, assessed immediately after massage and 1, 2, 3 and 4 hours later using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and the McGill Pain Questionnaire ; 2. Anxiety, assessed immediately after massage and 1, 2, 3 and 4 hours later by the short form Spielberg State‐Trait Anxiety scale SECONDARY OUTCOME: Overall rating of intervention by patient and observer (researcher), assessed by an interview after intervention (normally at 4 hours, however for some of the participants who dropped out of study the interview took place at a earlier timepoint) INCLUSION CRITERIA: Patients aged 18 or over attending pain relief unit whose pain was described as moderate or severe.