Background

Massage therapy (MT) provided to palliative patients by trained professional therapists is supported in the research literature as a beneficial complementary practice. MT safely and effectively serves to foster comfort and general wellbeing, and to ameliorate symptoms, such as pain, fatigue, and anxiety. MT is well integrated in many palliative care settings internationally. However, examples of, and service models for, the provision of palliative care MT in Australian hospital settings are scarce. In addition, Australian research finds robust consumer acceptability of MT, yet barriers to accessibility persist. 

Aims

To identify and address barriers to the implementation of a MT program in a palliative care ward within an Australian public hospital. To develop and enact a sustainable model of service for MT, capable of replication in other Australian palliative care settings with the overarching goal of enhancing patient experience.

Methods

Application of Donabedian’s structure, process and outcomes model provides the conceptual framework for the development, implementation, and evaluation of the MT program. A project steering group with input from key internal stakeholders and informants guides structural elements (for example, funding, organisational resources, and internal governance), process elements (therapist protocols, referral pathways and patient interactions), and outcomes (systematic gathering of evaluation data). Development of strong multi-disciplinary partnerships and collaboration with palliative care and other relevant personnel supports a successful implementation of a MT program.

Outcomes/evaluation

Validated assessment tools facilitated collection of patient outcomes data and subsequent analysis. This ongoing process served to inform and evaluate the acceptability and effectiveness of the MT program for palliative patient recipients. An additional longitudinal qualitative research process (interview and focus group based) conducted at intervals with consumer, clinical and administrative team members will further inform and assess the effectiveness, acceptability, and suitability of this model of MT service delivery for the hospital palliative setting.