None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
This randomised controlled trial aims to investigate the efficacy and safety of self-administered acupressure for the management of allergic rhinitis. Acupressure is a subtype of acupuncture without needle insertion. It applies fingers to press points on the body. The study consists of 1-week run-in, 4-week treatment and 4-week follow-up period.
Interventions
Participants will complete self-administered questionnaires for the severity of symptoms, quality of life and medication use during the 1-week run-in period. After randomisation at the first visit to the clinic laboratory during the treatment period, the registered acupuncturist will provide detailed instructions to each participant in a 15-minute session on a one-on-one basis. Each participant will also receive an information sheet ("Location of 5 Acupoints for Self-administered Acupressure") s
Participants will complete self-administered questionnaires for the severity of symptoms, quality of life and medication use during the 1-week run-in period. After randomisation at the first visit to the clinic laboratory during the treatment period, the registered acupuncturist will provide detailed instructions to each participant in a 15-minute session on a one-on-one basis. Each participant will also receive an information sheet ("Location of 5 Acupoints for Self-administered Acupressure") showing the details of the location of acupuncture points and administration. Participants in specific acupressure group will perform self-administered acupressure to five specific acupuncture points bilaterally, including Hegu (LI 4), Shangxing (GV 23), Zanzhu (BL 2), Yingxiang (LI 20) and Fengchi (GB 20). Participants will apply pressure to each acupuncture point for one minute, twice a day for four consecutive weeks. Participants will be asked to have a 10-minute one-on-one weekly visit for the four-week intervention period. The same acupuncturist will reinforce the participants' self-administered acupressure skills in every visit during the treatment period and ensure their techniques are correct.
Sponsors
RMIT University
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Blinded (masking used) (Subject, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
• Aged 18 years old and above; • A history of at least two years of typical symptoms of allergic rhinitis; • Have a positive skin prick test to one or more of the allergens such as Seven-grass mix, Perennial Rye, Ragweed, House mite, Animal’s dander or Mould; • Currently not involved in other clinical trials for the treatment of allergic rhinitis; • Provide written consent for participant to sign; • Have access to computer and internet; and • Will not travel overseas or interstates for the 14 weeks of trial period.
Exclusion criteria
• Current systemic corticosteroid therapy; • Other current active respiratory disease such as asthma; • Nasal polyposis; • Other structural defects of the upper respiratory tract; • History of HIV, Hepatitis B or C; • Current pregnancy; • Have used acupuncture/acupressure for respiratory or allergic diseases within the last month; • Chinese herbal medicine practitioner, acupuncturist, past or current Chinese medicine student; • Travel overseas or interstates in the 14 weeks of trial period; or • Do not understand English.
Outcome results
None listed