To evaluate the safety and efficacy of reflexology, a complementary therapy that applies pressure to specific areas of the feet. Longitudinal, randomized clinical trial. Thirteen community-based medical oncology clinics across the midwestern United States. A convenience sample of 385 predominantly Caucasian women with advanced-stage breast cancer receiving chemotherapy and/or hormonal therapy. Following the baseline interview, women were randomized into three primary groups: reflexology (n = 95), lay foot manipulation (LFM) (n = 95), or conventional care (n = 96). Two preliminary reflexology (n = 51) and LFM (n = 48) test groups were used to establish the protocols. Participants were interviewed again postintervention at study weeks 5 and 11. Breast cancer-specific health-related quality of life (HRQOL), physical functioning, and symptoms. No adverse events were reported. A longitudinal comparison revealed significant improvements in physical functioning for the reflexology group compared to the control group (p = 0.04). Severity of dyspnea was reduced in the reflexology group compared to the control group (p < 0.01) and the LFM group (p = 0.02). No differences were found on breast cancer-specific HRQOL, depressive symptomatology, state anxiety, pain, and nausea. Reflexology may be added to existing evidence-based supportive care to improve HRQOL for patients with advanced-stage breast cancer during chemotherapy and/or hormonal therapy. Reflexology can be recommended for safety and usefulness in relieving dyspnea and enhancing functional status among women with advanced-stage breast cancer.

Recent shifts in healthcare delivery and treatment for solid tumour cancer patients have modified the responsibilities of informal caregivers. The objective of this study was to: review informal ca...

This study presents the results of a secondary analysis of data collected during a trial of reflexology that aimed to improve health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) among women with advanced breast cancer in treatment. A comparison of HRQOL (functioning, symptoms, spirituality) of those with (n = 298) and without (n = 87) distant metastasis is presented. Following the intake interview, 385 women were randomised to reflexology, lay foot manipulation or conventional care control, and were interviewed again at weeks 5 and 11. Those with distant metastasis were older, had fewer comorbid conditions, and a smaller proportion were employed. Longitudinal analysis of HRQOL at intake, 5 and 11 weeks revealed that those with distant metastasis had lower functioning and more pain; however, no differences were found on fatigue, nausea, shortness of breath, sleep quality, anxiety, depressive symptoms or spirituality. Despite advanced disease, 56% of all women in this study were below the clinical screening cut‐off for depressive symptoms. These findings may indicate that patients with advanced breast cancer have adapted emotionally and spiritually; however, the management of physical symptoms remains a priority.

Up to 80% of women with breast cancer use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies to improve quality of life (QOL) during treatment. The objective of this study was to explore the association between CAM therapy use, spending on CAM therapies, demographic variables, surgical treatment, and QOL. A secondary analysis was conducted for women with early stage breast cancer (N = 222) who were enrolled in a nursing intervention study after breast surgery. The complementary therapy utilization instrument included specific CAM therapies used, number of treatments, and spending. The number of major categories of CAM and the specific CAM therapies used were analyzed in relation to study variables using proportional odds logistic regression models. The outcome of spending for major CAM categories was analyzed using linear mixed effects modeling. A majority of women (56.8%) used at least one CAM therapy, and the biologically based therapies category was most frequently used (43.7%). Women with less than a college level of education were less likely to use CAM (odds ratio [OR] = 0.36, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.15-0.86, p < .01). Women who were employed were more likely to use therapies from multiple CAM categories (OR = 2.42, 95% CI = 1.00-5.88, p < .05), and those with lower QOL were more likely to use CAM (OR = 0.97, 95% CI = 0.95-0.99, p < .01). The results support that women with early stage breast cancer, especially those with lower QOL, are highly likely to use CAM therapies. Further research is needed on CAM interventions to enhance supportive care for breast cancer.