Acupressure for Cough in Lung Cancer Survivors: A Randomized Controlled Trial

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating the effects of acupressure on cough and related symptoms such as shortness of breath and fatigue in lung cancer survivors. This randomized controlled trial aims to see if acupressure can reduce these symptoms, improve symptom burden, and enhance health-related quality of life and functional ability in patients with lung cancer. The study addresses the significant impact that cough and its related symptoms have on lung cancer survivors' quality of life and overall survival. Participants are randomly assigned to one of two groups: one group receives an 8-week acupressure intervention, while the other receives an educational booklet about lung cancer, cough causes, and management. The acupressure group attends two hospital training sessions in the first week to learn the technique, then performs acupressure daily on 15 specific points twice a day and during coughing episodes as needed. The education group receives the booklet after baseline assessment and will be offered acupressure later after the study ends. Participants keep diaries of their acupressure practice and symptoms and are assessed four times: before starting (baseline), after one week, after eight weeks, and eight weeks after the intervention ends. Researchers measure cough, quality of life related to cough, symptom clusters, fatigue, shortness of breath, symptom burden, functional capacity, and overall health-related quality of life. Follow-up continues for 16 weeks to monitor lasting effects and safety throughout the study period.

Acupressure for Cough in Lung Cancer Survivors