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The Effect of Acupuncture on Post-Cancer Fatigue and Well-Being for Women Recovering from Breast Cancer: A Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial

The Effect of Acupuncture on Post-Cancer Fatigue and Well-Being for Women Recovering from Breast... ObjectiveTo determine the feasibility and acceptability of acupuncture in managing fatigue and well-being in breast cancer survivors.MethodsA randomised controlled trial compared acupuncture was with sham acupuncture and wait list controls was performed in Sydney, Australia. A total of 30 women with fatigue following breast cancer treatment participated in the trial. Women received six sessions of acupuncture over 8 weeks. Outcomes related to an assessment of interest to participate in the trial and identification of appropriate recruitment strategies, appropriateness of eligibility criteria and compliance with treatment attendance. Clinical outcomes assessed fatigue and well-being. In-depth interviews were undertaken with seven women, who described their experience of acupuncture.ResultsOur study demonstrated feasibility with appropriate trial entry criteria, good acceptability and treatment compliance with the study interventions, and with the completion of outcome forms. There was a significant reduction in fatigue for women receiving acupuncture compared with control after 2 weeks mean difference (MD) 5.3, 95% CI 4.5 to 6.2, p=0.05, and a significant improvement in well-being at 6 weeks for acupuncture compared with the sham and wait list control, MD 2.7, 95% CI 2.1 to 3.2, p=0.006. Women described their experience of acupuncture positively, and interview data may also offer explanations for the improved outcomes of well-being, with women reporting an improvement in sleep, mood and relaxation.ConclusionsFatigue is a common symptom experienced by people recovering from treatment, and an appropriately powered trial to evaluate the effect of acupuncture is needed.Clinical Trial RegistrationAustralian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, www.anzctr.org.au ACTRN12610000720011. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Acupuncture in Medicine SAGE

The Effect of Acupuncture on Post-Cancer Fatigue and Well-Being for Women Recovering from Breast Cancer: A Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial

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References (19)

Publisher
SAGE
Copyright
© 2013 British Medical Acupuncutre Society
ISSN
0964-5284
eISSN
1759-9873
DOI
10.1136/acupmed-2012-010228
pmid
23196311
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

ObjectiveTo determine the feasibility and acceptability of acupuncture in managing fatigue and well-being in breast cancer survivors.MethodsA randomised controlled trial compared acupuncture was with sham acupuncture and wait list controls was performed in Sydney, Australia. A total of 30 women with fatigue following breast cancer treatment participated in the trial. Women received six sessions of acupuncture over 8 weeks. Outcomes related to an assessment of interest to participate in the trial and identification of appropriate recruitment strategies, appropriateness of eligibility criteria and compliance with treatment attendance. Clinical outcomes assessed fatigue and well-being. In-depth interviews were undertaken with seven women, who described their experience of acupuncture.ResultsOur study demonstrated feasibility with appropriate trial entry criteria, good acceptability and treatment compliance with the study interventions, and with the completion of outcome forms. There was a significant reduction in fatigue for women receiving acupuncture compared with control after 2 weeks mean difference (MD) 5.3, 95% CI 4.5 to 6.2, p=0.05, and a significant improvement in well-being at 6 weeks for acupuncture compared with the sham and wait list control, MD 2.7, 95% CI 2.1 to 3.2, p=0.006. Women described their experience of acupuncture positively, and interview data may also offer explanations for the improved outcomes of well-being, with women reporting an improvement in sleep, mood and relaxation.ConclusionsFatigue is a common symptom experienced by people recovering from treatment, and an appropriately powered trial to evaluate the effect of acupuncture is needed.Clinical Trial RegistrationAustralian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, www.anzctr.org.au ACTRN12610000720011.

Journal

Acupuncture in MedicineSAGE

Published: Mar 1, 2013

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