Cancer
Critical review of 5 nonpharmacologic strategies for managing cancer pain.
Sellick SM, Zaza C. Northwestern Ontario Regional Cancer Centre, Thunder Bay. Cancer Prevention and Control 1998 Feb; 2(1):7-14
PURPOSE: Health care professionals at 2 Ontario cancer centres were surveyed to determine their familiarity with, perceptions of and interest in learning more about nonpharmacologic strategies for the management of cancer pain. Evidence-based education sessions were subsequently developed for the 5 strategies in which participants were most interested. This article presents the results of critical literature reviews concerning the effectiveness of the 5 strategies: acupuncture, massage therapy, hypnosis, theraputic touch and biofeedback.
METHODS: The databases MEDLINE (1966 to June 1997), CINAHL (1982 to June 1997) and PsycheINFO Lit (1980 to June 1997) were searched sytematically for randomized controlled trials (RCT’s) of the 5 nonpharmacological strategies. The authors’ personal files and reference lists of relevant papers and main texts were also searched. The quality of the trials was reviewed according to established criteria.
RESULTS: The search yielded 1 RCT of acupuncture, 1 of massage therapy and 6 of hypnosis. The studies of hypnosis suggested that there is much support for its use in the management of cancer pain. The evidence was either lacking or less clear for the other therapies examined.
CONCLUSION: Because patients use a wide variety of nonpharmacologic strategies regardless of their effectiveness, clinicians need to be familiar with available research and able to discuss those strategies for which the evidence is strong, weak or nonexistent. More research on the effectiveness of nonpharmacologic strategies for pain management is needed.
Clinical hypnosis versus cognitive behavioral training for pain management with pediatric cancer patients undergoing bone marrow aspirations.
Liossi C, Hatira P. University of Sunderland, United Kingdom. International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis 1999 Apr; 47(2):104-16
A randomized controlled trial was conducted to compare the efficacy of clinical hypnosis versus cognitive behavioral (CB) coping skills in alleviating the pain and distress of 30 pediatric cancer patients (age 5 to 15 years) undergoing bone marrow aspirations. Patients were randomized to one of three groups: hypnosis, a package of CB coping skills, and no intervention.
Patients who received either hyposis or CB reported less pain and pain-related anxiety than did control patients and less pain and anxiety that at their own baseline. Hypnosis and CB were similarly effective in the relief of pain. Results also indicated that children reported more anxiety and exhibited more behavioral distress in the CB group than in the hypnosis group. It is concluded that hypnosis and CB coping skills are effective in preparing pediatric oncology patients for bone marrow aspiration.
Hypnosis for children and adolescents with cancer: an annotated bibliography.
Steggles S, Damore Petingola S, Maxwell J, Lightfoot N. Department of Psychosocial Resources, Northeastern Ontario Cancer Centre, Sudbury, Canada Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing 1997 Jan; 14(1):27-32
This annotated bibliography reviews the professional literature published in English, from 1985 to 1995 inclusive, on the subject of the use of hypnosis with pediatric cancer patients. Books, chapters, and journal articles are included; dissertation, theses and unpublished material are not.
This bibliography contains 37 items organized into three categories: (1) General Discussions; (2) Case Reports or Case Studies; and (3) Experimental and Nonexperimental Group Designs. The brief annotations provided are not intended to be reviews or to be evaluative, but, rather, to inform the reader about the content and focus of the publication.
This is an update of a previously published annotated bibliography, also presented in this Journal, which explored the relationship between hypnosis and pediatric cancer in journal articles published from 1960 to 1985.
