1. HEBA ABDEL-AZEEM MOSTAFA - Associated Professor of Medical-Surgical Nursing; Faculty of Nursing- Al-Azhar University.
2. LAMIA MOHAMED-NABIL ISMAIL - Associated Professor of Nursing Education - Faculty of Nursing - Cairo University.
3. NAGLAA MOHAMMED AMEIN - Associated Professor of Community Health Nursing -Faculty of Nursing- Minia University.
4. MERVAT MAMDOUH ABU ZEAD - Lecturer in Medical-Surgical Nursing- Faculty of Nursing - Cairo University.
Cancer-related fatigue is one of the most common and debilitating symptoms affecting most patients at some point during their cancer journey and it can persist long after treatment is completed. Swedish massage therapy is one of the complementary treatment options that plays an important role in treating cancer-related fatigue in chemotherapy patients. Aim: To investigate the effect of Swedish massage therapy on cancer-related fatigue in chemotherapy patients. Design: A quasi-experimental research design was utilized to investigate the efficacy of Swedish massage therapy. Setting: The study was conducted at the outpatient oncology clinic at Minia University Hospital. Sample: A purposeful sample of 60 male and female adults patients was recruited for a control and study group. Tools: Data collection tool included the Structured Interview Questionnaire and the Brief Fatigue Inventory scale (BFI). Results: The study revealed that there was a significant decreases in the level of fatigue mean scores among the study group after implementing the Swedish massage therapy. Conclusion: Based on the result, Swedish massage therapy was found to have a positive effect on reducing cancer-related fatigue intensity among the studied patients compared to the control group. Recommendations: The outcomes of this study show the value of including Swedish massage therapy as a complementary method and an integral part of oncology management by certified oncology nurses, who play a critical role in cancer treatment and care.
Swedish massage therapy, Cancer – related fatigue, Chemotherapy.