Adv Mind Body Med. 2024 Summer;38(3):36-42.
Complementary medicine through the laying on of hands (LOH) is commonly integrated with conventional medicine in cancer patients to improve symptoms. However, studies evaluating the effects of the LOH with Spiritual connection (LHSP) on oncology patients are lacking.
This study aimed to investigate the effects of LHSP, and LOH without Spiritual connection (LHW) compared to a control group on the outcomes of oncology patients undergoing chemotherapy.
It is a randomized, double-blinded clinical trial.
The study took place at the Center for Integrative and Complementary Practices of the Federal University of Triangulo Mineiro, MG, Brazil.
Participants were aged ≥18 years with a diagnosis of cancer undergoing parenteral chemotherapy. Those who were unable to understand the questionnaires or were absent during the three therapy sessions were excluded.
Using block randomization, eligible patients were allocated to one of the following groups: LHSP, receiving LOH by Spiritist "passe"; LHW, receiving LOH with healing intent; and a control group exposed to sham without LOH. Each intervention lasted 5 minutes. Patients were evaluated by a blinded researcher at baseline, at eight, and ten weeks.
The outcomes, including stress, anxiety, depression, pain, fatigue, quality of life, vital signs, and adverse effects, were compared among groups.
A total of 90 patients with cancer were randomized. After 10 weeks, the LHSP differed significantly from the control for depression (Cohen's d = 1.24), nausea/vomiting (Cohen's d = 0.71), and loss of appetite symptoms (Cohen's d = 0.71); and also to the LHW and control for adverse events (P = 0.023). There were significant differences in depression (Cohen's d = 1.37) and loss of appetite symptoms (Cohen's d = 0.71) between LHW and control. Furthermore, the LHSP and LHW differed significantly from the control for depression (Cohen d = 0.83 and Cohen d = 1.19, respectively) and for stress (Cohen d = 0.62 and Cohen d = 0.74, respectively) in patients with solid tumors.
The present results suggest that LOH treatments can improve the mental and physical symptoms, thus maintaining the quality of life in oncology patients during chemotherapy. However, LHSP was more effective in controlling physical symptoms and safer than LHW and control groups. Further studies exploring biological markers, treatment response, and longer follow-up periods are required across different cancer types.
在癌症患者中，通过手的接触（LOH）进行的补充医学通常与常规医学相结合，以改善症状。然而，目前缺乏评估具有精神联系的 LOH（LHSP）与肿瘤患者相关的研究。
本研究旨在调查 LHSP 和无精神联系的 LOH（LHW）与对照组相比，对接受化疗的肿瘤患者结局的影响。
这是一项随机、双盲的临床试验。
巴西米纳斯吉拉斯联邦大学综合与补充实践中心。
参与者年龄≥18 岁，被诊断患有癌症并接受静脉化疗。那些无法理解问卷或在三次治疗过程中缺席的患者被排除在外。
使用区组随机化，合格的患者被分配到以下组之一：LHSP，接受灵媒的 LOH；LHW，接受具有治疗意图的 LOH；对照组接受无 LOH 的假治疗。每次干预持续 5 分钟。患者在基线、8 周和 10 周时由盲法研究者进行评估。
比较各组之间的压力、焦虑、抑郁、疼痛、疲劳、生活质量、生命体征和不良反应等结局。
共随机分配了 90 例癌症患者。10 周后，LHSP 在抑郁（Cohen's d = 1.24）、恶心/呕吐（Cohen's d = 0.71）和食欲不振症状（Cohen's d = 0.71）方面与对照组有显著差异；并且在不良反应方面也与 LHW 和对照组有显著差异（P = 0.023）。在抑郁（Cohen's d = 1.37）和食欲不振症状（Cohen's d = 0.71）方面，LHW 与对照组之间也有显著差异。此外，LHSP 和 LHW 与对照组在抑郁（Cohen d = 0.83 和 Cohen d = 1.19）和压力（Cohen d = 0.62 和 Cohen d = 0.74）方面也有显著差异。
本研究结果表明，LOH 治疗可改善肿瘤患者化疗期间的精神和身体症状，从而维持生活质量。然而，LHSP 在控制身体症状方面比 LHW 和对照组更有效，并且更安全。需要在不同类型的癌症中进行进一步的研究，以探索生物标志物、治疗反应和更长的随访期。
