Pilot, randomized, modified, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of acupuncture for cancer-related fatigue.

摘要: Cancer-related fatigue is a substantial problem for cancer patients and their caregivers, but no effective treatment exists. Acupuncture has been suggested to improve cancer-related fatigue, randomized clinical trials have conducted. We hypothesized that true acupuncture, compared with sham would reduce in receiving external radiation therapy. The aim of this study was determine effect size feasibility. A modified, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial subject, staff, assessor were blinded, the acupuncturist not. Subjects received acupuncture once twice per week during 6-week course Data collected at baseline, 3 weeks, 6 10 which 4 weeks after last session. Twenty-seven subjects enrolled, 23 completed data collection. Both groups had improved distress, quality life, depression from baseline differences between not statistically significant. group 5.50 (SE, +/- 1.48) points on Functional Assessment Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue Subscale (FACIT-F), whereas by 3.73 (SE 1.92) points. This difference significant (p = .37). All guessed they group. Our underpowered find difference. To demonstrate improvement require 75 future study. Owing poor recruitment, feasibility larger using same methodology low. Despite being underpowered, it appears may benefit more than acupuncture. In discussion section, we review our experience sham-needle controlled