This was a pilot, parallel group, randomized controlled trial aimed at exploring feasibility for a larger
randomized controlled trial. Nineteen staff, providing direct care to residents with dementia and regularly working ≥ two
day-shifts a week, from one long-term care facility in Queensland (Australia), were randomized into either a foot
massage intervention (n=9) or a silent resting control (n=10). Each respective session lasted for 10-min, and
participants could receive up to three sessions a week, during their allocated shift, over four-weeks. At pre- and
post-intervention, participants were assessed on self-report outcome measures that rated mood state and
experiences of working with people with dementia. Immediately before and after each intervention/control
session, participants had their blood pressure and anxiety measured. An Intention To Treat framework was
applied to the analyses. Individual qualitative interviews were also undertaken to explore participants’ perceptions
of the intervention.