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The proposed study will employ a pragmatic mixed methods randomised parallel-group exploratory design to determine the feasibility of delivering self-acupuncture within an NHS cancer care setting. The trial will explore the feasibility and acceptability of all aspects of a definitive clinical trial of teaching cancer patients to self-administer acupuncture to alleviate symptoms of cancer and the side effects of conventional chemotherapy treatment. In addition the feasibility trial will provide preliminary data on effectiveness to inform the sample size calculation for a controlled clinical trial. Patients will be randomly allocated to receive either: 1) self-acupuncture in addition to standard care or 2) standard care alone. Participants randomised to the self-acupuncture arm will be asked to attend a 1.5 hour group workshop delivered by an experienced practitioners and teachers of self-acupuncture. Participants allocated to standard care will be offered training in self-acupuncture once the trial is complete to address any ongoing side effects from their cancer and its treatment. Patients will be recruited at the initiation of their chemotherapy cancer treatment from UCH Macmillan Cancer Centre. Participants will complete baseline outcome measures and be asked to complete follow up outcomes measures at the end of chemotherapy treatment, and 3 months post chemotherapy treatment. At the end of chemotherapy treatment participants will also be asked to take part in a qualitative telephone interview to explore their views on the design of the study and if allocated to self-acupuncture their views on the intervention. At 3 months post chemotherapy treatment those allocated to self-acupuncture will be invited to participate in a second qualitative interview to explore the long-term practice and effects of self-acupuncture. Qualitative interviews will also be conducted with stakeholders (acupuncturists delivering workshops and UCH Macmillan Cancer Centre staff) to explore their views on the feasibility of teaching cancer patients self-acupuncture.
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| Label | Type | Description | Intervention Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard care plus self-acupuncture | Experimental | Participants randomised to the self-acupuncture arm will be asked to attend a group workshop. All participants will be taught to safely apply acupuncture bilaterally using traditional acupuncture needles to the acupuncture point Stomach 36. If deemed to be clinically appropriate by the acupuncturists, and if patients are willing and able, they will also be taught how to safely needle the acupuncture points Spleen 6 and/or Liver 3 (maximum of six points in total). Participants will be asked to needle the points 2-3 times a week throughout their cancer treatment and for 3 months post treatment. |
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| Standard care | No Intervention | Chemotherapy patients allocated to standard care will receive no additional treatments. 'Standard care' for all patients will be consistent with current best practice. |
| Name | Type | Description | Arm Group Labels | Other Names |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Self-acupuncture | Other | Participants be taught to safely apply acupuncture bilaterally using traditional acupuncture needles to the acupuncture point Stomach 36. If deemed to be clinically appropriate by the acupuncturists, and if patients are willing and able, they will also be taught how to safely needle the acupuncture points Spleen 6 and/or Liver 3 (maximum of six points in total). |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer-Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 Item (EORTC QLQ-C30) | This is a well-validated quality of life questionnaire focusing on functional assessment. The EORTC QLQ-C30 incorporates nine multi-item scales: five functional scales (physical, role, cognitive, emotional, and social); three symptom scales (fatigue, pain, and nausea and vomiting); and a global health and quality-of-life scale. | This scale will measure change at baseline and upon completion of chemotherapy treatment (up to 26 weeks later) |
| Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI) | The MFI is a well-validated scale measuring general fatigue including the dimensions of physical and mental fatigue, activity, and motivation. The questionnaire comprises 20 items for which the person must specify the extent to which the particular statements relates to them on a five-point scale, ranging from Yes, that is true to No, that is not true. | This scale will measure change at baseline and upon completion of chemotherapy treatment (up to 26 weeks later) |
| Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale | This is a multidimensional scale which evaluates 32 physical and psychological symptoms associated with cancer and its treatment. | This scale will measure change at baseline and upon completion of chemotherapy treatment (up to 26 weeks later) |
| Visual Analogue Scale of Quality of Life | The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) is a commonly used outcome measurement to monitor variations in patient reported quality of life. | This scale will measure change at baseline and upon completion of chemotherapy treatment (up to 26 weeks later) |
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Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria:
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| Name | Role | Phone | Extension | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Hughes | Contact | 02034488883 | john.hughes8@nhs.net |
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| Facility | Status | City | State | ZIP | Country | Contacts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UCH Macmillan Cancer Centre | Recruiting | London | United Kingdom |
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| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D009369 | Neoplasms |
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