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Brief Title: Reflexology: An Intervention for Advanced Breast Cancer
Official Title: Reflexology: An Intervention for Advanced Breast Cancer
Study ID: NCT01577420
Brief Summary: The aim of this study is to test a complementary therapy intervention (reflexology) that will assist in improving quality of life (QOL) for women undergoing chemotherapy for late stage (III or IV) breast cancer within the context of conventional medical care. Quality of life will be assessed via intermediate indicators: 1) physical indicators (greater physical functioning, lower presence of symptoms) 2) emotional indicators (greater spirituality, lower anxiety, and lower depressive symptomology); and the outcome indicator of quality of life.
Detailed Description: The goal of this study is to test a complementary therapy intervention that will assist in improving quality of life (QOL) for women undergoing chemotherapy for late stage (III and IV) breast cancer within the context of conventional medical care. This longitudinal randomized clinical trial (RCT) will test a three-group design in which participants will continue to receive conventional care. Two groups of the study will involve a single-blinded four-week protocol: Group A will receive reflexology (a specialized foot therapy) from a certified reflexologist; Group B will receive placebo sessions from a research aide. The control group (Group C) will receive conventional medical care alone. The specific aims are: 1) to determine if women who receive either Groups (A or B) of an experimental protocol (reflexology or placebo) report significantly better QOL outcomes (total and subscales) at 7 weeks, 13 weeks, and longitudinally over time, relative to women receiving conventional care alone (Group C); 2) to determine if women who receive Group A of an experimental protocol (reflexology), report significantly better QOL outcomes (total and subscales) at 7 weeks, 13 weeks, and longitudinally over time, relative to women receiving Group B (placebo; 3) to determine if women who receive either Group A or B of an experimental protocol (reflexology or placebo), report significant differences on Intermediate Indicators (physical and emotional), at 7 weeks, 13 weeks, and longitudinally over time, relative to women receiving conventional care alone; and 4) to determine if the Intermediate Indicators mediate the group effect on the QOL outcomes (total and subscales) at 7 weeks. This has the potential of leading to an enhanced system of care through the integration of conventional and scientifically-based complementary therapies. It also focuses on advanced disease that is currently under investigation in terms of supportive care measures. Finally, this study utilizes an improved design over existing work. It is a RCT with adequate numbers to detect group differences, and could ultimately serve as a model for rigorous investigation of other complementary therapies.
Minimum Age: 21 Years
Eligible Ages: ADULT, OLDER_ADULT
Sex: FEMALE
Healthy Volunteers: No
Evanston Northwestern, Evanston, Illinois, United States
Mt. Clemens, Evanston, Illinois, United States
Hurley Medical Center, Flint, Michigan, United States
GLCI/McLaren, Flint, Michigan, United States
St. Joseph Mercy Oakland Hospital, Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States
St. Mary's Health Care Center, Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States
Great Lakes Cancer Institute (GLCI) MSU, Lansing, Michigan, United States
Sparrow Hospital, Lansing, Michigan, United States
William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, Michigan, United States
William Beaumont Hospital-Troy Campus, Troy, Michigan, United States
St. John Macomb, Warren, Michigan, United States
Josephine Ford Cancer Care, Henry Ford Hospital, West Bloomfield, Michigan, United States
Name: Gwen Wyatt, PhD, RN
Affiliation: Michigan State University
Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR