Acupressure on Xerostomia in Head and Neck Cancer Patients
Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age18+
SponsorThe University of Hong Kong
About this trial
This is a randomized controlled trial aimed to1) examine the effect of a self-administered acupressure intervention on head and neck cancer patients with xerostomia (primary outcome) relative to oral health education control; 2) examine the effect of self-administered acupressure on secondary outcomes, including quality of life and severity of symptoms of head and neck cancer patients; 3) evaluate patients' expectancy of acupressure; 4) explore the acceptability of self-administered acupressure for head and neck cancer patients with xerostomia.
Hypothesis: self-administered acupressure has better effect on xerostomia for head and neck cancer patients comparing to oral health education. Acupressure will also benefit head and neck cancer patients on quality of life and severity of symptoms. Head and neck cancer patients may have good acceptability of self-administered acupressure.
Eligibility criteria
Qualifiers
age ≥18 years;
able to give informed consent;
diagnosed with head and neck cancer (cancers in the head and neck region, e.g. oral cancer, nasopharyngeal cancer, oropharyngeal cancer, hypopharyngeal cancer, laryngeal cancer, sinus cancer, salivary gland cancer);
completed radiation therapy or chemoradiotherapy for at least 2 weeks;
Disqualifiers
history of xerostomia prior to head and neck cancer treatment (e.g., Sjögren Syndrome);
practiced acupressure or received acupuncture in the last 3 months;
having contraindications to acupressure, e.g. blood system disease (e.g., leukemia); pregnancy; lactating; upper or lower extremity deformities; infection or injuries at the acupoints.
Trial design
Treatments tested in this trial
- Self-administered acupressure
- Oral health education
Treatment groups
126 Participants
are divided into 2 treatment groupsSponsors and collaborators
Source ClinicalTrials.gov