Effect of aromatherapy massage on pain and plasma beta-endorphine levels in palliative cancer patients

Effect of Aromatherapy Massage on Pain and Plasma Beta-Endorphine Levels in Palliative Cancer Patients This study was planned as Study-Control study to investigate the impact of aromatherapy massage on pain and plasma beta-endhorphine levels in palliative cancer patients. Research sample consisted of 31 patients (10 aromatherapy group, 10 massage group and 10 control group) who admitted to Tulay Aktas Oncology Hospital, Ege University Faculty of Medicine, between August 2016, December 2016. Patient Recognition Form, ECOG Performans Scale, Numeric Pain Scale and Brief Pain Envantory were used for data collection. For application of the research, Ethics Committee permissionand written consent from the institution were taken. Informed and written consents from the patients who participated to the research were also taken. Patients included the research were randomized as aromatheraphy, massage and control groups using bed numbers. Blood samples were taken to determine plasma beta-endorphine levels and questionnaires were applied to all patients in both aromatheraphy, massage and control groups since the time of the hospitalization. Patients in aromatheraphy group were given aromatherapy back massage two times in a week for four times. Patients in massage group were given back massage two times in a week for four times. Patiens in control group received routine clinical care. The questionnaires were applied to the patienst in all groups an done tube blood sample was taken again to estimate plasma beta-endhorphine level. Chi squre, Kruskal Wallis and Mann Whitney U tests were used fort he statistical analysis of the data. Acording to research findings, it was found that mean age of patients 39.58+15,9 years. %51,6 of patiens were male, %48,4 female, %54,8 married, %58,1 middele income classes. %38,8 of patients have bone and connective tissue cancer and %22,6 of patients have third stage cancer and %77,4 of patients fourth stage cancer. There were statistically significant differences between the groups with respect to second, third and fourth application pain and ECOG performans scale scores (p<0.05). Similarly, there was a significant difference between with respect to the effectiveness of aromatheraphy back massage (p<0.05). When examined highest, mean and lowest pain scores; pain scores were decrease in aromatherapy and massage group (p<0.05). Also patients activity status, emotional status, walking ability, working status,, communication status, sleeping status and quality of life were investigated. Scores of this components were significantly decrease in patients in aromatherapy and massage group (p<0.05). Plasma beta-endorphine levels of patients in aromatheraphy and massage group were increase in second measure (p<0.05). As a result of this current study, it is suggested that aromatheraphy massage can descrease pain intensity and increase plasma beta-endorphine levels in palliative cancer patients. Key words: Palliative Care, Cancer Pain, Aromatherapi