Prostate Cancer
Conditions
Brief summary
A pilot study to assess the acceptability and efficacy of acupuncture in alleviating vasomotor symptoms (hot flushes and night sweats) in Irish patients with prostate cancer receiving androgen deprivation therapy.
Interventions
PROCEDUREAcupuncture
Acupuncture will be given using single use sterile stainless steel 34 gauge (Japanese size: 0.20 X 30 mm) filoform needles. Skin will be swabbed with an alcohol prep pad before acupuncture is administered. Needles will be inserted 0.5 to 1.0 centimetres deep into the skin and gently manipulated to create the deqi sensation. No electrical stimulation will be used.
Sponsors
University College Cork
Bon Secours Hospital, Cork
Study design
Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
MALE
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* All participants must have a histologically confirmed diagnosis of prostate cancer and currently be treated with androgen deprivation therapy with or without additional prostate cancer therapies. * Patients under the care of a Medical Oncologist in either Bons Secours Hospital or Cork University Hospital * All participants must be experiencing moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms as defined by a score of 4 or more on the Hot Flash Index.
Exclusion criteria
* Patients under 18. * Patients with HFI scores below 4. * Patients not currently being treated with androgen deprivation therapy. * Patients with contraindications to acupuncture. * Patients already receiving acupuncture for vasomotor symptoms. * Patients unwilling to participate in the study.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Feasibility of the intervention | Completed after 6 weeks of acupuncture sessions and repeated 3 months after acupuncture has finished | Specially designed questionnaire |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Changes in symptom interference scores | Completed after 6 weeks of acupuncture sessions and repeated 3 months after acupuncture has finished | Changes in the Hot Flash Related Daily Interference Scale (HFRDIS). The scale is measured from 0-10, with lower scores indicating a better outcomes |
| Changes in sleep quality | Completed after 6 weeks of acupuncture sessions and repeated 3 months after acupuncture has finished | Changes in Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Each answer is rated between 0-3, and a higher global score indicates a worse outcome. |
Countries
Ireland
Outcome results
None listed