Acupressure of the ear for fatigue, sleep problems and anxiety in cancer patients treated with chemotherapy

ISRCTN ISRCTN16408424
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN16408424
Secondary identifying numbers N/A
Submission date
07/05/2018
Registration date
10/05/2018
Last edited
23/11/2020
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Mental and Behavioural Disorders
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aims
Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is common in lung cancer patients treated with chemotherapy and this can affect the patient's quality of life. Auricular acupressure (stimulating acupuncture points on the ear without using needles or breaking the skin) has been increasingly used to manage symptoms in cancer patients.

Who can participate?
People aged 18-75 years who are receiving chemotherapy (drug treatment) for lung cancer

What does the study involve?
In the two intervention groups, patients will have a small ball-shaped seed or a magnetic ball taped to five acupressure points on their ear. They will press each seed or ball against the ear 4 to 6 times per session at 5 sessions per day. They will do this every day for 18 days to complete a cycle of therapy. They will have 3 days with no seed or balls taped to their ear before starting the next 18-day course. There are 3 18-days courses in the study. Patients in the control group will receive the usual care for lung cancer patients treated with chemotherapy.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
There are no side effects linked with auricular acupressure reported previous studies. Participants will receive a certain amount of compensation for their time.

Where is the study run from?
First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
December 2016 to August 2018

Who is funding the study?
Suzhou Municipal Science and Technology Bureau

Who is the main contact?
Dr Tian Li, tianlisz@suda.edu.cn

Contact information

Dr Li Tian
Scientific

No. 188 Shizi street
suzhou
215006
China

Phone +86 512 65221481
Email tianlisz@suda.edu.cn

Study information

Study designRandomised controlled trial
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)Hospital
Study typeTreatment
Participant information sheet Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet.
Scientific titleAuricular acupressure for cancer-related fatigue, sleep disturbance and anxiety in lung cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy
Study objectivesAuricular acupressure (AA) can alleviate cancer-related fatigue, sleep disturbance and anxiety in lung cancer patients
Ethics approval(s)Ethics Committee of the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, 03/03/2017, 2017028
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedFatigue, sleep disturbance and anxiety in lung cancer patients with no severe complications
InterventionThose patients who met the study criteria were randomly assigned to one of three groups using computer-generated numbers.
Group A: auricular acupressure using Semen Vaccariae (SV, seed of cowherb [Vaccaria segetalis])
Disinfect the skin with 75% alcohol, dry the skin, and place a piece of tape with SV on the selected ear acupoint. Vertically press the SV until the patients report the feeling of swelling pain, continue to press each acupoint for 20 to 30 seconds, and press the five selected acupoints repeatedly and in turn 4 to 6 times for each session, with 5 sessions per day (i.e., in the morning, after each of 3 meals and before bedtime). Replace the SV tape every 3 days. One treatment course included six replacements, the interval between two consecutive treatment courses was three days, and the whole intervention length of the study was three treatment courses, i.e. three cycles of therapy.
Group B: auricular acupressure using magnetic beads
The intervention protocols for group B and group A were the same; the only difference was that magnetic beads were used in group B in place of SV.
Group C: routine care
Patients received routine care during hospitalization, and after discharge, regular telephone follow-up and home visits were performed.
Intervention typeOther
Primary outcome measureCancer-related fatigue (CRF) was assessed by the Cancer Fatigue Scale - Chinese version (CFS-C) using a numerical rating scale ranging from 0 to 10, with 10 indicating severe CRF and ≥4 indicating clinically significant fatigue. CRF was measured at baseline and at the end of the whole intervention, i.e. after the patients received three cycles of therapy.
Secondary outcome measures1. Sleep quality and quantity in the past month was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)
2. Anxiety was assessed using the Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS)
Sleep disturbance and anxiety were measured at baseline and at the end of the whole intervention, i.e. after the patients received three cycles of therapy.
Overall study start date01/12/2016
Completion date31/08/2017

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupAdult
Lower age limit18 Years
Upper age limit75 Years
SexBoth
Target number of participants75
Total final enrolment100
Key inclusion criteria1. Aged 18-75 years
2. Receiving conventional chemotherapy for lung cancer
3. Diagnosed with CRF using the diagnostic standards of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems 10th Revision and showed CRF ≥4 on a 0-10 numerical rating scale
4. No infection, injury or ulcers around the acupoint
5. No previous participation in AA or any fatigue-related intervention
6. No cognitively impairment
7. Willing to participate
Key exclusion criteriaPatients who had pleural effusion and other severe complications (such as severe anemia, severe organic diseases or dysfunction of heart, brain, or kidney) were excluded
Date of first enrolment01/12/2016
Date of final enrolment30/06/2017

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • China

Study participating centre

First Affiliated hospital of Soochow University
No. 188 Shizi street
suzhou
215006
China

Sponsor information

Suzhou Municipal Science and Technology Bureau
Government

No. 979 Renming Road
suzhou
215002
China

Phone + 86 512 65241084
Email szkjxm@szkj.gov.cn
ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/02vpk4745

Funders

Funder type

Not defined

Suzhou Science and Technology Development Project (SYS 201526)

No information available

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date31/08/2018
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareNo
IPD sharing plan summaryData sharing statement to be made available at a later date
Publication and dissemination planPlanned publication in a high-impact peer reviewed journal
IPD sharing planThe datasets generated and/or analysed during the current study during this study will be included in the subsequent results publication.

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Results article results 01/03/2021 23/11/2020 Yes No

Editorial Notes

23/11/2020: The following changes were made to the trial record:
1. Publication reference added.
2. The total final enrolment was added.