Ignite Creation Date:
2024-05-05 @ 4:44 PM
Last Modification Date:
2024-10-26 @ 9:23 AM
Study NCT ID:
NCT00302185
Status:
COMPLETED
Last Update Posted:
2010-10-20
First Post:
2006-03-13
Brief Title:
Acupuncture in Palliative Cancer Care
Sponsor:
British Columbia Cancer Agency
Organization:
British Columbia Cancer Agency
Study Overview
Official Title:
A Feasibility Study in Acupuncture for Symptom Management in Palliative Care
Status:
COMPLETED
Status Verified Date:
2010-10
Last Known Status:
None
Delayed Posting:
No
If Stopped, Why?:
Not Stopped
Has Expanded Access:
False
If Expanded Access, NCT#:
N/A
Has Expanded Access, NCT# Status:
N/A
Acronym:
None
Brief Summary:
Research question Can acupuncture improve symptom control and quality of life QOL in patients with advanced incurable cancer
The purposes of this study is to investigate the feasibility of performing a randomized trial with acupuncture in improving symptom control and quality of life QOL in patients with advanced incurable cancer at the BC Cancer Agency Vancouver Island Centre in Victoria
We will
Evaluate whether subjects who are receiving palliative care for cancer related symptoms can tolerate and complete to a course of acupuncture treatments
Evaluate whether it is possible to conduct a study using acupuncture on cancer patients
The purposes of this study is to investigate the feasibility of performing a randomized trial with acupuncture in improving symptom control and quality of life QOL in patients with advanced incurable cancer at the BC Cancer Agency Vancouver Island Centre in Victoria
We will
Evaluate whether subjects who are receiving palliative care for cancer related symptoms can tolerate and complete to a course of acupuncture treatments
Evaluate whether it is possible to conduct a study using acupuncture on cancer patients
Detailed Description:
Patients with advanced cancer suffer from many symptoms which dramatically reduce their Quality of Life QOL There have been significant improvements in the management of pain nausea and constipation but other common symptoms such as fatigue anxiety depression and a lack of well-being are not readily addressed by conventional therapies As cancer patients usually present with numerous symptoms it would be important to try to address all of these globally instead of only treating individual symptoms that respond well to conventional therapy Attempts at controlling individual symptoms can also give rise to iatrogenic effects One well known example is constipation occurring in patients who are on opiate analgesics Successful treatment from the caregivers perspective is often scored against each individual symptom that is being treated From the patients point of view it is the interplay of the whole treatment package that succeeds or fails in improving his QOL
In an attempt at treating all of the patients symptoms research into the use of complementary and alternative medicine CAM has been conducted to determine the utility of these treatments in addressing the unmet needs of many patients with cancer There is preliminary evidence that acupuncture in particular is successful at improving many cancer and treatment associated symptoms
Given the potential to improve symptom control and QOL it is thought that acupuncture should be investigated to assess its effectiveness and feasibility in symptomatic patients with advanced cancer Acupuncture should be compared against another intervention so that the control group would also be receiving attention to their symptoms As supportive care has been shown to be helpful in ameliorating symptoms in terminal care acupuncture will be compared against this intervention Sham acupuncture is not considered to be a good comparison for acupuncture as it is not well tested and its effects are often indistinguishable from acupuncture Recently however some studies have reported the use of novel techniques that prevent acupuncture-naïve patients from distinguishing between acupuncture treatment and placebo These techniques have yet to be independently validated
Objectives 1 To determine feasibility of recruiting patients and running a randomized study that involves acupuncture at the BCCA-VIC 2 To gather enough data to support a grant application to fund a larger study to look at the effectiveness of acupuncture as adjunctive treatment for the management of symptoms associated with palliative cancer care
In an attempt at treating all of the patients symptoms research into the use of complementary and alternative medicine CAM has been conducted to determine the utility of these treatments in addressing the unmet needs of many patients with cancer There is preliminary evidence that acupuncture in particular is successful at improving many cancer and treatment associated symptoms
Given the potential to improve symptom control and QOL it is thought that acupuncture should be investigated to assess its effectiveness and feasibility in symptomatic patients with advanced cancer Acupuncture should be compared against another intervention so that the control group would also be receiving attention to their symptoms As supportive care has been shown to be helpful in ameliorating symptoms in terminal care acupuncture will be compared against this intervention Sham acupuncture is not considered to be a good comparison for acupuncture as it is not well tested and its effects are often indistinguishable from acupuncture Recently however some studies have reported the use of novel techniques that prevent acupuncture-naïve patients from distinguishing between acupuncture treatment and placebo These techniques have yet to be independently validated
Objectives 1 To determine feasibility of recruiting patients and running a randomized study that involves acupuncture at the BCCA-VIC 2 To gather enough data to support a grant application to fund a larger study to look at the effectiveness of acupuncture as adjunctive treatment for the management of symptoms associated with palliative cancer care
Study Oversight
Has Oversight DMC:
None
Is a FDA Regulated Drug?:
None
Is a FDA Regulated Device?:
None
Is an Unapproved Device?:
None
Is a PPSD?:
None
Is a US Export?:
None
Is an FDA AA801 Violation?:
None