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. 2016 Jun 3;2016(6):CD009873. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD009873.pub3

Wilcock 2004.

Methods Study design: RCT
Country: UK
Total: 46 randomised 1:1 (aromatherapy with massage group n = 23, no‐massage group n = 23)
Participants Population: people with any type of cancer attending day care approached on their third visit and invited to participate in the study
Setting: not reported
Mean age: 71.5 years
Interventions Intervention: day care plus weekly aromatherapy massage for 4 weeks
Comparison: day care alone for 4 weeks
Country of training: not described
Years in practice: not described
Outcomes Outcome measures at baseline and at the end of the intervention (4 weeks):
  • Measure Yourself Medical Outcome Profile (MYMOP)

    • Intensity of 2 physical symptoms

    • Discomfort due to 2 physical symptoms

  • Profile of Mood State (POMS) total mood disturbance score

  • QoL

Notes  
Risk of bias
Bias Authors' judgement Support for judgement
Random sequence generation (selection bias) Low risk Used block randomisation
Allocation concealment (selection bias) Unclear risk Not reported
Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias) 
 All outcomes Low risk Assessed the same outcomes (MYMOP, POMS)
Quote: "all questionnaires were completed by the patients with the help of a research nurse, who had no involvement in their clinical care"
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) 
 All outcomes High risk 17 lost after 4 weeks (37.0%); reasons provided for drop‐out (n = 46)
Selective reporting (reporting bias) Low risk Quote: "completed the Profile of Mood State (POMS) questionnaire. This consists of six sub scales: tension, depression, anger, fatigue, confusion and vigour that combine to give an overall score of total mood of disturbance of between 0 and 76, a lower score indication less disturbance"
Size High risk n = 46
Other bias Low risk The age, sex, performance status, and prior experience of complementary therapy of those completing the study did not differ significantly between the 2 groups