None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
This study will assess the feasibility of administering acupuncture as a therapy for patients who have cancer pain. Who is it for? You may be eligible for this study if you are an adult aged 18 years or older, you have been diagnosed with advanced cancer (treatment is no longer being curative) and you have been experiencing pain related to your cancer. Study details All participants who choose to enrol in this study will be offered a short course of acupuncture treatments. Twice weekly 30 minute acupuncture sessions will be provided by a registered acupuncturist over a 4 week period. Participants will be asked to rate their pain after each treatment session and may be asked to complete an exit interview at the end of the study. It is hoped this research will demonstrate that a short course of acupuncture can be practically delivered to patients with advanced cancer. If this initial study indicates that acupuncture is able to decrease pain, a larger study enrolling a greater number of cancer patients may be undertaken in the future.
Interventions
A Pilot open label single-arm trial assessing the feasibility of performing acupuncture for cancer pain. Participants will receive twice-weekly acupuncture sessions (for 30 minutes) over 4 weeks. 8 sessions of acupuncture in total.
The study intervention will be based on acupuncture points commonly used for cancer pain18 and provided by clinicians with Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency (AHPRA) accreditation to perform acupuncture, and with >50 hours experience.
The interventi
A Pilot open label single-arm trial assessing the feasibility of performing acupuncture for cancer pain. Participants will receive twice-weekly acupuncture sessions (for 30 minutes) over 4 weeks. 8 sessions of acupuncture in total. The study intervention will be based on acupuncture points commonly used for cancer pain18 and provided by clinicians with Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency (AHPRA) accreditation to perform acupuncture, and with >50 hours experience. The intervention involves locating each point of interest, tapping in the needle, removing the guide tube and manipulating the needle. Sterile single-use needles will be used. The intervention will take 30 minutes. Acupuncture treatment will be conducted using a semi-standardised method, which reflects both practice in usual care and in reported acupuncture trials. This involves delivering the acupuncture to 5 consensus standardised points used for cancer pain (Hegu (LI4), Taichong (LR3), Zusanli (ST36), Sanyinjiao (SP6), Yanglingquan (GB34)) bilaterally. Up to 5 additional points are able to be chosen to tailor treatment to location of pain. Strategies used to monitor adherence include usual-care documentation of intervention post-session and completion of attendance form.
Sponsors
Cancer Symptom Trials at University of Technology, Sydney
Study design
Allocation
Non-randomised trial
Primary purpose
Treatment
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
A. Age 18 years or older B. Advanced cancer (histological or clinical diagnosis) defined by intent of treatment no longer being curative C. Experiencing pain related to the cancer D. Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form average pain score equal to or greater than 4 in the previous 24 hours E. Capable of completing assessments and complying with the study
Exclusion criteria
A. Participant currently or within 4 weeks of receiving acupuncture B. Clinician predicted survival less than 8 weeks C. Participant planned to receive radiotherapy to a site of pain during the acupuncture treatment study period, or who have received radiotherapy to a site of pain within 2 weeks before study entry D. Participants commencing a new line of chemotherapy, hormone therapy, immunotherapy or targeted therapy within 2 weeks prior to study entry E. Participant with cellulitis, lymphoedema or disruption to skin integrity in the acupuncture treatment region F. Participant with cutaneous/ subcutaneous malignancy at site of treatment G. Participant with moderate or severe thrombocytopenia (platelet count <50 x109/L) H. Patients requiring more than 6 doses of breakthrough immediate release opioid per day
Outcome results
None listed