Clients' perceptions of the benefits of reflexology on their quality of life.
Awareness has increased among health-care professionals, patients and the general public of the importance of an holistic approach to cancer care. Psychosocial interventions, including complementary therapies, may help to improve the quality of life (QoL) of people with cancer by helping to reduce the distress associated with the diagnosis and treatment of cancer and by facilitating improved psychological adjustment to the experience of cancer. The following article presents anecdotal findings at ARC Cancer Support Centre Dublin, Ireland, of clients' perceptions of the benefits of reflexology interventions on their QoL. Reflexology interventions were perceived to impact positively upon clients' levels of impairment and functional status, including physical and psychological function, with implications for general health perceptions. The paper discusses how these findings might form the basis of further, more rigourous evaluation of the benefits of reflexology for people with cancer at ARC Cancer Support Centre.
ARC Cancer Support Centre, Dublin, Ireland.
S
S
Wright
U
U
Courtney
C
C
Donnelly
T
T
Kenny
C
C
Lavin
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland; D008297:Male; D008405:Massage / Q000523:psychology* / Q000592:standards*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012944:Social Support