Investigation of 2 Types of Self-administered Acupressure for Persistent Cancer-Related Fatigue in Breast Cancer Survivors: A Randomized Clinical Trial. 2016

Suzanna M Zick, and Ananda Sen, and Gwen K Wyatt, and Susan L Murphy, and J Todd Arnedt, and Richard E Harris
Department of Family Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor2Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

OBJECTIVE Fatigue is a common and debilitating late-term effect of breast cancer that is associated with poor sleep and decreased quality of life, yet therapies remain limited. Acupressure has reduced fatigue in previous small studies, but rigorous clinical trials are needed. OBJECTIVE To investigate if 6 weeks of 2 types of self-administered acupressure improved fatigue, sleep, and quality of life vs usual care in breast cancer survivors and to determine if changes were sustained during a 4-week washout period. METHODS Phase 3 randomized, single-blind, clinical trial conducted from March 1, 2011, through October 31, 2014. Women were recruited from the Michigan Tumor Registry. METHODS Randomization (1:1:1) to 6 weeks of daily self-administered relaxing acupressure, stimulating acupressure, or usual care. METHODS The primary outcome was change in the Brief Fatigue Inventory score from baseline to weeks 6 and 10. Secondary analyses were sleep (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index) and quality of life (Long-Term Quality of Life Instrument). RESULTS A total of 424 survivors of stages 0 to III breast cancer who had completed cancer treatments at least 12 months previously were screened, and 288 were randomized, with 270 receiving relaxing acupressure (n = 94), stimulating acupressure (n = 90), or usual care (n = 86). One woman withdrew owing to bruising at the acupoints. At week 6, the percentages of participants who achieved normal fatigue levels (Brief Fatigue Inventory score <4) were 66.2% (49 of 74) in relaxing acupressure, 60.9% (42 of 70) in stimulating acupressure, and 31.3% (26 of 84) in usual care. At week 10, a total of 56.3% (40 of 71) in relaxing acupressure, 60.9% (42 of 69) in stimulating acupressure, and 30.1% (25 of 83) in usual care continued to have normal fatigue. At neither time point were the 2 acupressure groups significantly different. Relaxing acupressure, but not stimulating acupressure, showed significant improvements in sleep quality compared with usual care at week 6, but not at week 10. Only relaxing acupressure significantly improved quality of life vs usual care at weeks 6 and 10. CONCLUSIONS Both acupressure arms significantly reduced persistent fatigue compared with usual care, but only relaxing acupressure had significant effects on sleep quality and quality of life. Relaxing acupressure offers a possible low-cost option for managing symptoms. BACKGROUND clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01281904.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D010349 Patient Compliance Voluntary cooperation of the patient in following a prescribed regimen. Client Adherence,Client Compliance,Non-Adherent Patient,Patient Adherence,Patient Cooperation,Patient Noncompliance,Patient Non-Adherence,Patient Non-Compliance,Patient Nonadherence,Therapeutic Compliance,Treatment Compliance,Adherence, Client,Adherence, Patient,Client Compliances,Compliance, Client,Compliance, Patient,Compliance, Therapeutic,Compliance, Treatment,Cooperation, Patient,Non Adherent Patient,Non-Adherence, Patient,Non-Adherent Patients,Non-Compliance, Patient,Nonadherence, Patient,Noncompliance, Patient,Patient Non Adherence,Patient Non Compliance,Patient, Non-Adherent,Therapeutic Compliances,Treatment Compliances
D011788 Quality of Life A generic concept reflecting concern with the modification and enhancement of life attributes, e.g., physical, political, moral, social environment as well as health and disease. HRQOL,Health-Related Quality Of Life,Life Quality,Health Related Quality Of Life
D001943 Breast Neoplasms Tumors or cancer of the human BREAST. Breast Cancer,Breast Tumors,Cancer of Breast,Breast Carcinoma,Cancer of the Breast,Human Mammary Carcinoma,Malignant Neoplasm of Breast,Malignant Tumor of Breast,Mammary Cancer,Mammary Carcinoma, Human,Mammary Neoplasm, Human,Mammary Neoplasms, Human,Neoplasms, Breast,Tumors, Breast,Breast Carcinomas,Breast Malignant Neoplasm,Breast Malignant Neoplasms,Breast Malignant Tumor,Breast Malignant Tumors,Breast Neoplasm,Breast Tumor,Cancer, Breast,Cancer, Mammary,Cancers, Mammary,Carcinoma, Breast,Carcinoma, Human Mammary,Carcinomas, Breast,Carcinomas, Human Mammary,Human Mammary Carcinomas,Human Mammary Neoplasm,Human Mammary Neoplasms,Mammary Cancers,Mammary Carcinomas, Human,Neoplasm, Breast,Neoplasm, Human Mammary,Neoplasms, Human Mammary,Tumor, Breast
D005221 Fatigue The state of weariness following a period of exertion, mental or physical, characterized by a decreased capacity for work and reduced efficiency to respond to stimuli. Lassitude
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000368 Aged A person 65 years of age or older. For a person older than 79 years, AGED, 80 AND OVER is available. Elderly
D012648 Self Care Caring for self when ill or positive actions and adopting behaviors to prevent illness. Self-Care,Care, Self
D012890 Sleep A readily reversible suspension of sensorimotor interaction with the environment, usually associated with recumbency and immobility. Sleep Habits,Sleeping Habit,Sleeping Habits,Habit, Sleep,Habit, Sleeping,Habits, Sleep,Habits, Sleeping,Sleep Habit
D016037 Single-Blind Method A method in which either the observer(s) or the subject(s) is kept ignorant of the group to which the subjects are assigned. Single-Masked Study,Single-Blind Study,Single-Masked Method,Method, Single-Blind,Method, Single-Masked,Methods, Single-Blind,Methods, Single-Masked,Single Blind Method,Single Blind Study,Single Masked Method,Single Masked Study,Single-Blind Methods,Single-Blind Studies,Single-Masked Methods,Single-Masked Studies,Studies, Single-Blind,Studies, Single-Masked,Study, Single-Blind,Study, Single-Masked

Related Publications

Suzanna M Zick, and Ananda Sen, and Gwen K Wyatt, and Susan L Murphy, and J Todd Arnedt, and Richard E Harris
January 2015, Alternative therapies in health and medicine,
Suzanna M Zick, and Ananda Sen, and Gwen K Wyatt, and Susan L Murphy, and J Todd Arnedt, and Richard E Harris
August 2012, Cancer,
Suzanna M Zick, and Ananda Sen, and Gwen K Wyatt, and Susan L Murphy, and J Todd Arnedt, and Richard E Harris
May 2022, Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology,
Suzanna M Zick, and Ananda Sen, and Gwen K Wyatt, and Susan L Murphy, and J Todd Arnedt, and Richard E Harris
May 2024, Breast cancer research : BCR,
Suzanna M Zick, and Ananda Sen, and Gwen K Wyatt, and Susan L Murphy, and J Todd Arnedt, and Richard E Harris
January 2023, The Journal of head trauma rehabilitation,
Suzanna M Zick, and Ananda Sen, and Gwen K Wyatt, and Susan L Murphy, and J Todd Arnedt, and Richard E Harris
January 2017, Breast cancer research and treatment,
Suzanna M Zick, and Ananda Sen, and Gwen K Wyatt, and Susan L Murphy, and J Todd Arnedt, and Richard E Harris
April 2018, Journal of sleep research,
Suzanna M Zick, and Ananda Sen, and Gwen K Wyatt, and Susan L Murphy, and J Todd Arnedt, and Richard E Harris
October 2016, The American journal of nursing,
Suzanna M Zick, and Ananda Sen, and Gwen K Wyatt, and Susan L Murphy, and J Todd Arnedt, and Richard E Harris
October 2023, European journal of oncology nursing : the official journal of European Oncology Nursing Society,
Suzanna M Zick, and Ananda Sen, and Gwen K Wyatt, and Susan L Murphy, and J Todd Arnedt, and Richard E Harris
June 2020, Journal of the American Geriatrics Society,
Copied contents to your clipboard!