Self-administered Acupressure to Improve Cancer-related Fatigue Among Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy

NARecruitingINTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment

138

Participants

Timeline

Start Date

June 1, 2022

Primary Completion Date

May 31, 2025

Study Completion Date

May 31, 2025

Conditions
Cancer, BreastFatigueAcupressureExercise
Interventions
BEHAVIORAL

Self-administered acupressure

Participants will receive training of self-acupressure on the 5 standard acupoints by a trained traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practitioner, have return-demonstration, be assessed by the practitioner with the use of a competency checklist, and be instructed to perform self-acupressure on the standard acupoints once a day. A follow-up visit will be conducted to reinforce learning, in which participants will demonstrate the acupressure technique while the practitioner observes and provides feedback, including suggestions for technique adjustments if necessary. The practitioner will recommend 2 additional acupoints from the list of optional acupoints based on the patients' sensitivity to acupoint stimulation and preference. Daily duration of self-practice will range from 8-10 minutes depending on the semi-individualized protocol (5 standard + 2 optional acupoints).

BEHAVIORAL

Aerobic exercise

Participants will receive verbal and written information from a trained exercise specialist about the specific advice of the desired exercise frequency (3x/week), duration (30 min each time), and intensity (moderate determined by rating of 12 to 14 on the Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion scale). The exercise specialist will demonstrate how to perform walking at moderate intensity indoors and outdoors, followed by return-demonstration of the patient. Education on safety precautions and walk schedule planning will be provided. Competency check will be performed to assess participants' ability to self-monitor and self-regular exercise intensity using Borg Scale. One week after the start of the program, the exercise specialist will conduct a 1-hour follow-up visit to supervise the patient's walking session and assess whether there is any additional advice needed.

Trial Locations (1)

Unknown

RECRUITING

Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong

All Listed Sponsors
lead

The University of Hong Kong

OTHER