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Self-Administered Relaxing Acupressure to Reduce Fatigue in Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Survivors

Not Applicable
Recruiting
Conditions
Hematopoietic and Lymphatic System Neoplasm
Malignant Solid Neoplasm
Interventions
Procedure: Acupressure Therapy
Other: Internet-Based Intervention
Other: Interview
Other: Medical Device Usage and Evaluation
Other: Questionnaire Administration
Registration Number
NCT06442891
Lead Sponsor
University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center
Brief Summary

This clinical trial tests the feasibility of self-administered relaxing acupressure on fatigue in adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors. Acupressure, a type of complementary or alternative medicine, is the application of pressure or localized massage to specific sites on the body to control symptoms. Relaxing acupressure has been shown to improve cancer-related fatigue (CRF) in adults, however, less is known about the impact of relaxing acupressure on CRF in AYA cancer survivors."

Detailed Description

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE:

I. Determine the feasibility of implementing a randomized controlled trial of a six-week, self-administered relaxing acupressure intervention in AYA cancer survivors with clinically relevant CRF.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVE:

I. Explore participants' perspectives of acceptability and satisfaction with the six-week acupressure interventions using semi-structured interviews.

EXPLORATORY OBJECTIVE:

I. Determine the preliminary efficacy of a six-week, virtual, self-administered relaxing acupressure intervention on clinically significant changes in CRF in post-treatment AYA cancer survivors.

OUTLINE: Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 arms.

ARM I: Patients receive access to an acupressure mobile application and an AcuWand on study and self-administer relaxing acupressure to 9 acupoints over 27 minutes once daily (QD) for 6 weeks.

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

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
30
Inclusion Criteria
  • 15 - 39 years old
  • At least three months post cancer treatment (e.g., surgery, radiation or chemotherapy). Participants receiving maintenance hormonal or targeted therapies will be allowed to enroll as determined by the study investigator
  • Report clinically relevant fatigue in the past seven days (Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information Systems [PROMIS] Fatigue 4a scores ≥ 55)
  • Speak / read English
  • CRF started at or after the diagnosis of cancer
  • Completed cancer treatment within the past five years
Exclusion Criteria
  • Diagnosis of untreated anemia, mood disorder, or hypothyroidism
  • Plan to begin new pharmacological, psychological, or other treatments (i.e., physical therapy or dietary supplements) for CRF during the study. Although, participants may continue usual treatments for CRF if the treatments were initiated at least eight weeks prior to study enrollment, and the dose has not changed
  • Plan to become pregnant or lactating during the study period
  • Received acupressure or acupuncture in the past year

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
ARM I (relaxing acupressure)InterviewPatients 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.
ARM II (sham acupressure)Internet-Based InterventionPatients 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.
ARM II (sham acupressure)InterviewPatients 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.
ARM I (relaxing acupressure)Questionnaire AdministrationPatients 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.
ARM I (relaxing acupressure)Internet-Based InterventionPatients 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.
ARM II (sham acupressure)Medical Device Usage and EvaluationPatients 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.
ARM I (relaxing acupressure)Medical Device Usage and EvaluationPatients 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.
ARM II (sham acupressure)Acupressure TherapyPatients 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.
ARM I (relaxing acupressure)Acupressure TherapyPatients 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.
ARM II (sham acupressure)Questionnaire AdministrationPatients 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.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in fatigueAt baseline and up to week 10

Measured using the Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information Systems Fatigue 4a questionnaire. Results are continuously scaled and appropriately analyzed by Gaussian-based statistical models. Change in fatigue will be analyzed using a Full Information Maximum Likelihood mixed-effects linear regression model. Specifically, change from baseline will be evaluated by including fixed-effects coefficients for time, treatment, and the important interaction effects that will determine whether changes from baseline are greater in the relaxing acupressure group, relative to controls. Random Y-intercepts in the model will be incorporated to accommodate the nesting of repeated observations within subject. Change in fatigue will be analyzed using a Full Information Maximum Likelihood mixed-effects linear regression model.

Recruitment rateUp to 2 years

Self-administered acupressure implementation will be feasible if all participants are recruited over 2 years. Descriptive statistics will be used to summarize recruitment rate.

SatisfactionUp to week 10

Interview data will be analyzed using inductive content analysis. Perspectives of the intervention will be analyzed using inductive content analysis.

AdherenceAt 6 weeks

Self-administered acupressure implementation will be feasible if 60% of participants complete the baseline and 6-week patient-reported measures and if 60% of acupressure group participants self-report acupressure practice for at least 27 minutes on at least 3 days per week. Descriptive statistics will be used to summarize adherence.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center

🇺🇸

Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States

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