Abstract
Objective: To elucidate the effect on sleep that tactile massage, a form of tactile therapy, has on female cancer patients undergoing in-hospital treatment. Methods: The participants were 11 cancer patients (mean age: 58.5±23.2 years) undergoing in-hospital therapy. The participants did not receive a massage (non-intervention days=pre intervention). Then, thirty-minute tactile massages were performed daily (intervention days=post intervention). Quantitative data on the participantsʼ sleep and wakefulness were obtained using actigraphy and their Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scores were compared using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Results: Intervention significantly increased the number of naps taken during wakeful periods of time (p<0.05), decreased wake time after sleep onset (p<0.05), and increased sleep efficiency (p<0.05). Investigation of the total PSQI scores indicated that that intervention caused significant decreases (p<0.05). Conclusion: The use of actigraphy and the PSQI indicated that tactile massage intervention performed on female cancer patients undergoing in-hospital treatment improved the patientsʼ sleep.
