Effects of the Laying on of Hands on Stress, Depression, Fatigue, and Quality of Life in Oncology Patients: A Randomized, Double-Blind Clinical Trial

Effects of Laying on of Hands in Oncology Patients

Study Details

Published in Adv Mind Body Med. 2024 Summer;28(3):36-42.

Conducted at the Center for Integrative and Complementary Practices of the Federal University of Triangulo Mineiro, MG, Brazil.

Objective

To investigate the effects of laying on of hands (LOH) with Spiritual connection (LHSP) and LOH without Spiritual connection (LHW) compared to a control group on oncology patients undergoing chemotherapy.

Method

Randomized, double-blinded clinical trial.

Participants

Cancer patients aged ≥18 years undergoing chemotherapy.

Intervention

Patients were allocated to LHSP, LHW, or a control group. Each LOH intervention lasted 5 minutes, and patients were evaluated at baseline, at eight, and ten weeks.

Results

After 10 weeks, LHSP showed significant differences in depression, nausea/vomiting, and loss of appetite symptoms compared to the control group. LHW also differed significantly from the control in depression and loss of appetite symptoms. Both LHSP and LHW were more effective than the control group in managing depression and stress in patients with solid tumors.

Conclusions

LOH treatments can improve mental and physical symptoms, maintaining the quality of life in oncology patients during chemotherapy. LHSP was found to be more effective in controlling physical symptoms and safer than LHW and the control group.

Value of Clinical Trials

Clinical trials are essential for developing safe and effective treatments and should be integrated into everyday medical practice.

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