Management of behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia by an aroma-massage with acupressure treatment protocol: A randomised clinical trial.
Author: Fung, J. K. K., & Tsang, H. W. (2017).
Journal: Journal of Clinical Nursing
Abstract:
Aims and objectives.
This study evaluates the clinical effectiveness of a multicomponent aroma‐massage with an
acupressure treatment protocol and compared it to cognitive training for the management of
behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia.
Background.
Pharmacological interventions have been unsatisfactory in managing behavioural and
psychological symptoms of dementia; thus, complementary and alternative medicine has
been extensively researched to identify an adjunct safe and cost‐effective intervention.
Design.
This randomised clinical trial utilised a three‐arm parallel group design. Cognitive training
was used as a conventional intervention to manage behavioural and psychological symptoms
of dementia, whereas exercise was considered “treatment as usual” in this study; both were
used as comparisons with the experimental protocol. There were three treatment groups:
Group 1: aroma‐massage with acupressure + exercise, Group 2: cognitive training + exercise
and Group 3: aroma‐massage with acupressure + cognitive training.
Method.
Sixty older adults were recruited and randomly assigned to the three groups (20 each). Using
the 29‐item Chinese Version of the Cohen‐Mansfield Agitation Inventory, Neuropsychiatric
Inventory, Mini‐mental State Examination and Barthel Index‐20, the outcome measures were
assessed at preintervention, postintervention and the 3‐month follow‐up to assess behaviour,
Activities of Daily Living, cognition, and behavioural and psychological symptoms of
dementia severity and distress. Multiple comparisons performed through repeated measures
were analysed to detect between‐group differences and within‐subject differences, as well as
the interaction effects between groups and times.
Results.
The Group 1 and 3 participants showed a significant reduction in the severity and distress
caused by behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia, whereas Group 2 did not
demonstrate similar effects.
Conclusions.
This clinical study suggests that aroma‐massage with acupressure is as effective as cognitive
training and can enhance cognitive training in reducing the severity and distress of
behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia.
Relevance to clinical practice.
Aroma‐massage with acupressure may serve as an adjunct therapy to reduce behavioural and
psychological symptoms of dementia. This therapy is safe, cost‐effective and can be
implemented by caregivers and family members who are not professionally trained.