Abstract

Objective: We evaluated the feasibility of a structured intervention of home reflexology in oncology patients in a community home-hospice setting. Reported here is the pilot study. Methodology: Between January to July 2022, patients referred to home-hospice at Maccabi Health Services (MHS -Israel) were offered to participate in a clinical trial assessing reflexology intervention on their well-being. The program included three consecutive reflexology treatments given at home by expert reflexology practitioners of Maccabi Tivi (MT, the complementary medicine division of MHS). Participants completed the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS-r), before and after each treatment.We used paired-samples T-test to assess treatment effect. Results: Of twenty potential patients, thirteen participated: five males and eight females, median age 70 years (range 47-90). Overall, 34 reflexology treatments were completed with significant improvement in participants' pain-level (P = 0.007), tiredness (P = 0.009), appetite (P = 0.004) and depression (P = 0.029). Ten participants completed all three interventions. A consistent positive effect between pre-treatment and post third therapy (with similar trend in all three sessions) was observed with significant improvement in participants' tiredness level (P = 0.015), sleepiness (P = 0.025), nausea (P = 0.036), appetite (P = 0.024), depression (P = 0.003), anxiety (P = 0.002), and over-all wellbeing (P = 0.000). Conclusions: Our pilot study suggests feasibility of home reflexology intervention in a HMO hospice setting, and the potential benefit of short interventions for the wellbeing of end-of-life cancer patients.

Keywords: Reflexology; Home hospice; Palliative care; Oncology; End of Life Care