Deetria Egeli
Purpose: To explore clinicians’ perspectives on the value of massage therapy in a pediatric hospice.
Methods: The study was conducted at Canuck Place in Vancouver Canada. Research participants (N=6) were clinicians who provide care within Canuck Place and who have experience with an in house massage practicum. This descriptive phenomenological inquiry used semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis to generate the findings.
Findings: Making massage therapy available in hospice was valued and was perceived to provide functional benefits including accessibility and self-care. Massage was perceived to be a support for physical wellness that included injury support, physical maintenance and symptom management. Massage was also perceived to support psychosocial wellness that included dignity, interconnection, intra-connection, relaxation and comfort.
Conclusion: This study suggests that there is value to massage therapy within pediatric hospice settings as one form of support for children, families and staff.