Field Placement: Childrens Hospital Los Angeles Promotion Branch, Cancer Control Section
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Preceptor: Jeffrey Gold, PhD
Student Name: Shay Beider
Year: 2004

Massage Evaluation for Pediatric Rehabilitation Patients

Executive Summary/Abstract:
Massage Evaluation for Pediatric Rehabilitation Patients is a research study at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles. The student is the Principal Investigator (PI) for the study. The study is an evaluation of an ongoing pediatric massage program for rehabilitation patients.

Background and Significance: Pediatric massage for children with special health care needs (CSHCN) arose out of the concern that health care providers and parents have for promoting health and well-being for this group of children. Initial findings of massage programs for CSHCN have shown parent reported improvements in children’s muscle tone, joint mobility, sleep patterns, bowel movements, and response to other forms of therapy, e.g. physiotherapy. Parents also reported that they themselves had benefited by feeling closer to their child and less stressed. An assessment of the frequency and types of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies used by families of CSHCN found that 64% of families reported using CAM for their child. The use of CAM among healthy children is significantly lower. A computerized literature review of the safety of massage therapy concluded that massage is not entirely risk free; however, serious adverse events are probably true rarities.

Although several pediatric populations have received massage by physical and occupational therapists, most research studies have singled out patients with particular illnesses or conditions. This study is an attempt to conduct an evaluation of a pediatric massage program that includes patients with a variety of medical conditions.

Study Aims:
1) To assess the impact of massage on children’s pain intensity, pain unpleasantness, and comfort
2) To assess the feasibility and acceptability of massage for children
3) To assess the acceptability and impact of pediatric massage on caregivers

Internship Achievements: The student worked with her preceptor to prepare the study protocol and application. She conducted a literature review, drafted the study protocol, developed tools for use in the study, and completed the full application for committee review. The study was approved by the Committee on Clinical Investigations (CCI) at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles. The student participated in regular meetings with hospital staff to construct an implementation plan. The student held meetings with study staff and trained the massage therapists to provide treatment and collect data.

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