Objective To determine the feasibility and acceptability of acupuncture in managing fatigue and w... more Objective To determine the feasibility and acceptability of acupuncture in managing fatigue and well-being in breast cancer survivors. Methods A 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. Results Our 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 wellbeing, with women reporting an improvement in sleep, mood and relaxation. Conclusions Fatigue is a common symptom experienced by people recovering from treatment, and an appropriately powered trial to evaluate the effect of acupuncture is needed.
The influence of acupuncture on female fertility is of interest to people in clinical practice an... more The influence of acupuncture on female fertility is of interest to people in clinical practice and acupuncture researchers. Despite developing research in the field, there is a marked absence of research defining an adequate treatment to support and treat women experiencing delays in conceiving. The aims of this study were to develop a consensus among acupuncture fertility specialists on what is adequate acupuncture treatment to promote female fertility in the periconception period; to examine what acupuncturists do in a consultation; to examine their actions and their exchanges with their patients; and to finalize an acupuncture intervention for a clinical trial of fertility problems. An online consensus-building technique was used among acupuncturists who are recognized experts in the field of women's reproductive health. The 10 subjects were selected on the basis of their published work with respect to treating female fertility problems or on the recommendation of researchers who had published articles in this discipline. All 10 subjects currently, or until recently, treated (some exclusively) women facing fertility problems using acupuncture as one of the modalities to address these problems. Although the participants were relatively diverse, a consensus emerged regarding the best way to provide acupuncture to women with fertility problems. Along the way, a rich vein of qualitative data emerged about the way in which acupuncture is applied. These data included, for example, the high value placed on differential diagnosis and the importance of the practitioner-patient relationship for the therapeutic outcome. Consensus building among experts provides a transparent method of protocol development suited to acupuncture research that will then hold relevance to clinical practice.
Objective To determine the feasibility and acceptability of acupuncture in managing fatigue and w... more Objective To determine the feasibility and acceptability of acupuncture in managing fatigue and well-being in breast cancer survivors. Methods A 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. Results Our 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 wellbeing, with women reporting an improvement in sleep, mood and relaxation. Conclusions Fatigue is a common symptom experienced by people recovering from treatment, and an appropriately powered trial to evaluate the effect of acupuncture is needed.
The influence of acupuncture on female fertility is of interest to people in clinical practice an... more The influence of acupuncture on female fertility is of interest to people in clinical practice and acupuncture researchers. Despite developing research in the field, there is a marked absence of research defining an adequate treatment to support and treat women experiencing delays in conceiving. The aims of this study were to develop a consensus among acupuncture fertility specialists on what is adequate acupuncture treatment to promote female fertility in the periconception period; to examine what acupuncturists do in a consultation; to examine their actions and their exchanges with their patients; and to finalize an acupuncture intervention for a clinical trial of fertility problems. An online consensus-building technique was used among acupuncturists who are recognized experts in the field of women's reproductive health. The 10 subjects were selected on the basis of their published work with respect to treating female fertility problems or on the recommendation of researchers who had published articles in this discipline. All 10 subjects currently, or until recently, treated (some exclusively) women facing fertility problems using acupuncture as one of the modalities to address these problems. Although the participants were relatively diverse, a consensus emerged regarding the best way to provide acupuncture to women with fertility problems. Along the way, a rich vein of qualitative data emerged about the way in which acupuncture is applied. These data included, for example, the high value placed on differential diagnosis and the importance of the practitioner-patient relationship for the therapeutic outcome. Consensus building among experts provides a transparent method of protocol development suited to acupuncture research that will then hold relevance to clinical practice.
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