This study investigated whether acupressure could reduce pain, fear, and anxiety during port insertion in pediatric cancer patients.

The effects of acupressure intervention on pain, fear, and anxiety in pediatric cancer patients during port catheter needle insertion: a randomized controlled trial

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

ISRCTN

Registry ID

ISRCTN52969544

Enrollment

Registered

2025-10-10

Start date

2024-06-03

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2025-10-27

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Reducing pain associated with port insertion in children with cancer Signs and Symptoms

Interventions

The study uses a randomized controlled design. This study adopts a block randomization method using the online tool available at (https://www.sealedenvelope.com/simple-randomiser/v1/lists). Random

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: 1. Pediatric cancer diagnosis (Western medicine criteria) 2. Undergoing port catheter needle insertion 3. Age 4–12 years 4. Stable vital signs 5. Platelet count >20,000/µl, no acute bleeding tendency 6. Child willing to receive acupressure 7. Parents provide informed consent

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: 1. Unstable vital signs (fever, shortness of breath, tachycardia, low blood pressure) 2. Skin infection, injury, or ulcer at the massage site 3. Severe comorbidity (cardiovascular, infectious diseases) 4. Unable to cooperate with acupressure

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
The effect of acupressure on pain and fear during Port-A needle insertion in pediatric cancer patients measured using the Faces Pain Scale – Revised (FPS-R) and Children’s Fear Scale (CFS) before and after the Port-A access injection	—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
The following secondary outcome measures were assessed before and after the Port-A access injection: 1. Physiological indicators (respiration, heart rate, blood pressure, mean arterial pressure) measured using standard procedures 2. Parental observation of the child’s pain and fear measured using the Faces Pain Scale – Revised (FPS-R) and Children’s Fear Scale (CFS) 3. Blinded nurse assessment of the child’s behavioral responses measured using the Children’s Emotional Manifestation Scale (CEMS) 4. Assessment of the correlation among pain, fear, and anxiety measured using the Children’s Anxiety Meter–State (CAMS), Faces Pain Scale–Revised (FPS-R), and Children’s Fear Scale (CFS)	—

Measure

Time frame

The following secondary outcome measures were assessed before and after the Port-A access injection: 1. Physiological indicators (respiration, heart rate, blood pressure, mean arterial pressure) measured using standard procedures 2. Parental observation of the child’s pain and fear measured using the Faces Pain Scale – Revised (FPS-R) and Children’s Fear Scale (CFS) 3. Blinded nurse assessment of the child’s behavioral responses measured using the Children’s Emotional Manifestation Scale (CEMS) 4. Assessment of the correlation among pain, fear, and anxiety measured using the Children’s Anxiety Meter–State (CAMS), Faces Pain Scale–Revised (FPS-R), and Children’s Fear Scale (CFS)

—

Countries

Taiwan

Contacts

Public ContactEn-Chen Fang

D1000503@cgu.edu.tw+886 905367739

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ISRCTN (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026