This article reports findings from a randomized controlled trial of massage and guided meditation with patients at the end of life. Using data from 167 randomized patients, the authors consider patient outcomes through 10 weeks post-enrollment, as well as next-of-kin ratings of the quality of the final week of life for 106 patients who died during study participation. Multiple regression models demonstrated no significant treatment effects of either massage or guided meditation, delivered up to twice a week, when compared with outcomes of an active control group that received visits from hospice-trained volunteers on a schedule similar to that of the active treatment arms. The authors discuss the implications of their findings for integration of these complementary and alternative medicine therapies into standard hospice care.

There is consensus internationally that research participants should be offered the opportunity to receive clinically relevant genetic information identified through research, but there is little empirical peer-reviewed work documenting this process. We report the experience of conducting genetic research with nearly 35,000 participants in the Colon Cancer Family Registry, based in the USA, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Investigators from six multinational sites provided information about disclosure protocols, implementation, and uptake of genetic results and made suggestions to inform practice. Across 5 of the 6 registry sites, 1,634 participants in families with mismatch repair or MutYH gene muta- Genet (2014) 5:99-108 DOI 10.1007 effort to return results. We offer suggestions in five key areas: (1) planning for the disclosure process, (2) participant information, (3) autonomy of participants, (4) monitoring scientific progress, and (5) involvement of stakeholders. Despite increasing discussion of the importance of returning incidental findings from genetic research, this paper highlights the considerable diversity, challenges, and costs faced in practice when returning expected findings with established utility and validity. We argue that more work is needed to ensure that genetic results in research are optimally managed.

A 14-session cognitive-behavioral group counseling intervention designed to assist gay and bisexual males in reducing their risk of HIV transmission was evaluated in an experimental design. To overcome psychological and geographic barriers to serving individuals at risk, the counseling sessions and all data collection interviews were conducted via telephone. Participants had the option of enrolling anonymously, and a toll-free number was made available. At reassessment, treatment group participants were 80% less likely than controls to report any unprotected anal sex, and were nearly twice as likely to report some condom use with anal and oral sex. Treated participants also reported a significantly greater decline than controls in the proportion of anal sex acts that were unprotected by condoms. While those who were treated maintained a lower risk level over the year following treatment, their initial increase in condom utilization was not maintained. Delivering counseling interventions via the telephone, when coupled with the option for participating anonymously, holds considerable promise in overcoming barriers to reaching and effectively facilitating risk reduction in high-risk populations.