Acupressure for Cancer Survivors

Age: < 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center

Disqualifiers: Untreated anemia, Mood disorder, Hypothyroidism, others

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 6 weeks

45 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

The trial aims to explore whether self-administered relaxing acupressure can reduce fatigue in adolescent and young adult cancer survivors. Participants will use an app and an AcuWand to apply pressure to specific points on the body, or to non-specific points in the placebo group, for 27 minutes daily over six weeks. This trial suits those who completed cancer treatment within the past five years, experience significant fatigue, and have not tried acupressure or acupuncture in the past year. As an unphased trial, it offers participants the chance to contribute to innovative research that could enhance fatigue management for future cancer survivors.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial does not specify if you need to stop your current medications, but you can continue usual treatments for fatigue if they started at least eight weeks before joining the study and the dose hasn't changed.

What prior data suggests that self-administered relaxing acupressure is safe for adolescent and young adult cancer survivors?

Research has shown that self-administered relaxing acupressure is very safe and easy to use. In earlier studies, only nine minor and temporary side effects occurred. Importantly, no participants discontinued the treatment due to these side effects. This suggests that relaxing acupressure is not only safe but also simple for most people to use. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about this trial because the focus is on acupressure, a technique that cancer survivors can self-administer to help manage symptoms like fatigue and stress. Unlike traditional treatments that often involve medication, this approach is non-invasive and utilizes a mobile app and AcuWand to empower patients to take control of their own symptom management. The trial compares relaxing acupressure with sham acupressure, which allows researchers to better understand the effectiveness of targeting specific acupoints. By exploring non-drug options, this trial could pave the way for more accessible and self-directed care strategies for cancer survivors.

What evidence suggests that self-administered relaxing acupressure is effective for cancer-related fatigue in adolescent and young adult cancer survivors?

Research shows that performing relaxing acupressure on oneself can significantly reduce cancer-related fatigue. Some studies have found that acupressure can lower fatigue by up to 38%. In another study, about 66% of participants reported a fatigue score of less than 4 after using relaxing acupressure. This trial will compare the effects of self-administered relaxing acupressure, performed by participants in one group, with sham acupressure, performed by participants in another group. Improvements in tiredness, sleep, and quality of life were observed and lasted for weeks after stopping acupressure. These findings suggest that relaxing acupressure might be an effective way to manage fatigue in cancer survivors. ^{2 4 5 6 7}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Robert Knoerl

Principal Investigator

University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for adolescent and young adult cancer survivors who are experiencing fatigue. The specific eligibility criteria aren't provided, but typically participants must meet certain health conditions to be included.

Inclusion Criteria

Speak/read English

CRF started at or after the diagnosis of cancer

I am between 15 and 39 years old.

Exclusion Criteria

I am not starting new treatments for cancer-related fatigue during the study but can continue my current ones if they began 8 weeks before joining.

I have been diagnosed with anemia, a mood disorder, or hypothyroidism that hasn't been treated.

Plan to become pregnant or lactating during the study period

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants self-administer relaxing or sham acupressure using a mobile application and AcuWand for 27 minutes daily over 6 weeks

6 weeks

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in fatigue and satisfaction with the intervention

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Self-Administered Relaxing Acupressure

Trial Overview The study is testing if self-administered relaxing acupressure can reduce fatigue in these individuals. It involves using a medical device or technique to apply pressure on the body, along with questionnaires, interviews, and internet-based interventions.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: ARM I (relaxing acupressure) Experimental Treatment 5 Interventions

Patients receive access to acupressure mobile application and an AcuWand on study and self-administer relaxing acupressure to 9 acupoints over 27 minutes QD for 6 weeks.

Group II: ARM II (sham acupressure) Placebo Group 5 Interventions

Patients receive access to acupressure mobile application and an AcuWand and self-administer sham acupressure to non-acupressure point locations over 27 minutes QD for 6 weeks.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center

Lead Sponsor

Trials

303

Recruited

20,700+

Published Research Related to This Trial

Acupoint stimulation, particularly acupressure on the P6 acupoint, has shown positive effects in managing chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in breast cancer patients, with 88% of the 26 trials reviewed reporting beneficial outcomes.

However, only 35% of the trials were of high quality, indicating a need for more rigorously designed studies to confirm the efficacy of acupoint stimulation for other therapy-related adverse events.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The efficacy of acupoint stimulation for the management of therapy-related adverse events in patients with breast cancer: a systematic review. Chao, LF., Zhang, AL., Liu, HE., et al.[2022]

A retrospective review of 32 cancer patients receiving virtual acupressure sessions showed a significant reduction in overall symptom burden, with a decrease of 4.9 points on the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) after follow-up, indicating potential efficacy of this remote intervention.

The study highlighted that virtual acupressure not only reduced total symptom burden but also improved physical and emotional symptoms, suggesting it could be a valuable supportive care option for cancer patients during disruptions in in-person services.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Virtual acupressure for symptom management in cancer populations during COVID-19: a retrospective analysis. Yang, E., Lu, W., Tanasijevic, AM., et al.[2023]

A randomized clinical trial involving 375 breast cancer survivors is investigating the efficacy of two types of self-administered acupressure (relaxation and stimulating) in reducing moderate to severe fatigue, with assessments at baseline, 3 weeks, and 6 weeks.

Preliminary evidence suggests that acupressure could be a low-cost, non-toxic intervention that significantly alleviates cancer-related fatigue, potentially offering a practical self-care option for survivors.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Acupressure for persistent cancer-related fatigue in breast cancer survivors (AcuCrft): a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Zick, SM., Wyatt, GK., Murphy, SL., et al.[2022]

Self-acupressure was found to be feasible and showed clinical significance in reducing insomnia, anxiety, and depression symptoms in cancer patients, particularly in the true acupressure group after 4 weeks of intervention.

Both true and sham acupressure groups reported lower insomnia and anxiety scores compared to the enhanced standard care group, indicating potential effectiveness and a possible placebo effect in managing these symptoms.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Pilot randomized sham-controlled trial of self-acupressure to manage the symptom cluster of insomnia, depression, and anxiety in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Hoang, HTX., Molassiotis, A., Chan, CW., et al.[2022]

Acupressure significantly reduced cancer-related fatigue in survivors, with the relaxation acupressure (RA) group experiencing the greatest reduction in fatigue levels after 12 weeks of treatment.

The study suggests that self-administered relaxation acupressure is a viable alternative for managing persistent cancer-related fatigue, as it provided clinically relevant improvements compared to high-dose and low-dose stimulatory acupressure.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Relaxation acupressure reduces persistent cancer-related fatigue. Zick, SM., Alrawi, S., Merel, G., et al.[2022]

A study involving 60 patients with pancreatic or colon cancer showed that self-acupressure significantly reduced pain, fatigue, and sleep disturbances compared to a control group that did not receive any intervention.

The intervention consisted of 16 self-acupressure sessions over 4 weeks, demonstrating that this method is an effective, accessible, and low-cost option for managing symptoms related to chemotherapy in cancer patients.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Effects of Self-Acupressure on Pain, Fatigue, and Sleep Quality in Colon and Pancreatic Cancer Patients Receiving Chemotherapy: A Randomized Controlled Study. Bahçecioğlu Turan, G., Özer, Z., Yanmış, S., et al.[2023]

Self-administered acupressure has been shown to be effective and safe in alleviating symptoms across various health issues, including allergic diseases, cancer-related nausea, respiratory problems, dysmenorrhea, and sleep disturbances, based on a review of 10 studies involving randomized controlled trials.

The studies indicated moderate quality with a low risk of bias in many areas, suggesting that self-acupressure can significantly improve symptom scores, but further research with larger and better-designed trials is needed to confirm its efficacy.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effect of self-acupressure for symptom management: a systematic review. Song, HJ., Seo, HJ., Lee, H., et al.[2022]

Citations

1. jamanetwork.com jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaoncology/fullarticle/2532352

Investigation of 2 Types of Self-administered Acupressure ... Improvements in fatigue, sleep, and quality of life were sustained for 4 weeks after cessation of acupressure. Self-administered relaxing ...

2. cancer.gov cancer.gov/research/participate/clinical-trials-search/v?id=NCI-2024-03772

Self-Administered Relaxing Acupressure to Reduce ... This clinical trial tests the feasibility of self-administered relaxing acupressure on fatigue in adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors.

3. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2949582/

Relaxation Acupressure Reduces Persistent Cancer- ... Pilot clinical trials have also demonstrated that acupressure and acupuncture can significantly decrease persistent cancer fatigue by as much as 38% [16], ...

4. journals.plos.org journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0311044

Self-acupressure for patients with breast cancer experiencing ... Acupressure has shown promise for treating fatigue and other symptoms in cancer patients and survivors [16–20]. It can be delivered by a ...

5. facingourrisk.org facingourrisk.org/XRAY/acupressure-and-cancer-related-fatigue

Can acupressure be used to treat cancer-related fatigue? Study findings: · about 66% of breast cancer survivors who did relaxing acupressure had a BFI score of less than 4 · about 61% of women who did stimulating ...

6. trialx.com trialx.com/clinical-trials/listings/316505/self-administered-relaxing-acupressure-to-reduce-fatigue-in-adolescent-and-young-adult-cancer-survivors/

Self-Administered Relaxing Acupressure to Reduce ... Overview. This clinical trial tests the feasibility of self-administered relaxing acupressure on fatigue in adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors.

7. jpsmjournal.com jpsmjournal.com/article/S0885-3924(23)00402-5/fulltext

Self-Acupressure for Symptom Management in Cancer ... This systematic review is the first to summarize the current experimental evidence on self-acupressure for symptom management in cancer patients.