Use of reflexology foot massage to reduce anxiety in hospitalized cancer patients in chemotherapy treatment: methodology and outcomes R. QUATTRIN 1 , A. ZANINI 2 , S. BUCHINI 3 , D. TURELLO 1 , M.A. ANNUNZIATA 4 , C. VIDOTTI 5 , A. COLOMBATTI 6 and S. BRUSAFERRO 7 1 Medical Doctor, Chair of Hygiene, DPMSC School of Medicine, University of Udine, Udine, 2 Visiting Professor, School of Nursing, University of Udine, Udine, 3 Nursing Student, School of Nursing, University of Udine, Udine, 4 Psycologist, CRO, Aviano, 5 Coordinator of School of Nursing, University of Udine, Udine, 6 Director of School of Nursing, University of Udine, Udine and 7 Associated Professor of Hygiene, DPMSC School of Medicine, University of Udine, Udine, Italy Introduction The quality of life of a patient with cancer is an important consideration. Besides prolonging the patient’s life, medicine has to take care of its quality as well. This is a particularly important issue in oncology where, in addition to problems caused by cancer as a disease, there is a treatment-related toxicity, which causes distress to the patient. New antiblastic drugs are more effective than in the past, but they are also responsible for several side-effects that cause suffering, non-acceptance of treatment and overall worsening of the patient’s quality of life. Quality of life is a multidimensional concept and involves physical, Correspondence Rosanna Quattrin Chair of Hygiene Dipartimento di Patologia e Medicina Sperimentale e Clinica University of Udine Via Colugna 50 33100 Udine Italy E-mail: r.quattrin@med.uniud.it QUATTRIN R ., ZANINI A ., BUCHINI S ., TURELLO D ., ANNUNZIATA M. A ., VIDOTTI C ., COLOMBATTI A. & BRUSAFERRO S . (2006) Journal of Nursing Management 14, 96–105 Use of reflexology foot massage to reduce anxiety in hospitalized cancer patients in chemotherapy treatment: methodology and outcomes Aim To examine the effectiveness of reflexology foot massage in hospitalized cancer patients undergoing second or third chemotherapy cycles. Background Since the late-1970s, studies have been conducted to assess the efficacy of behavioural and relaxation approaches in controlling nausea/vomiting, anxiety and other side-effects associated with chemotherapy. Methods The study consisted of 30 patients being admitted to the oncology unit at a Scientific Research Hospital in Italy. Only 15 of the 30 participants received therapeutic massage. The subjectsÕ self-reports of anxiety (measured by the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory) were recorded before, after and 24 hours after the intervention. Results There was an average decrease of 7.9 points on the state-anxiety scale in the treatment group and of 0.8 points in the control group (P < 0.0001). Conclusions Reflexology foot massage can be considered a support treatment used in combination with traditional medical treatments and executed by an expert, qualified person to help cancer patients receiving chemotherapy feel better and also cope better with their disease. Keywords: cancer, relaxation measures, therapeutic massage Accepted for publication: 20 January 2005 Journal of Nursing Management, 2006, 14, 96–105 96 ª 2006 Blackwell Publishing Ltd