Centre for Complementary Medicine Research, University of Western Sydney, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith South DC, New South Wales 2751, Australia.
Acupunct Med. 2013 Mar;31(1):9-15. doi: 10.1136/acupmed-2012-010228. Epub 2012 Nov 29.
To determine the feasibility and acceptability of acupuncture in managing fatigue and well-being in breast cancer survivors.
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.
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 well-being, with women reporting an improvement in sleep, mood and relaxation.
Fatigue is a common symptom experienced by people recovering from treatment, and an appropriately powered trial to evaluate the effect of acupuncture is needed.
Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, www.anzctr.org.au ACTRN12610000720011.
确定针刺治疗乳腺癌幸存者疲劳和幸福感的可行性和可接受性。
在澳大利亚悉尼进行了一项随机对照试验，比较了针刺与假针刺和等待名单对照。共有 30 名接受过乳腺癌治疗后出现疲劳的女性参与了试验。女性接受了 8 周内 6 次的针刺治疗。与参与试验的评估和确定适当的招募策略、资格标准的适当性以及治疗出勤率有关的结果。临床结果评估了疲劳和幸福感。对 7 名女性进行了深入访谈，描述了她们的针刺体验。
我们的研究表明，适当的试验入组标准、良好的可接受性和对研究干预措施的治疗依从性以及完成结果表格是可行的。与对照组相比，接受针刺治疗的女性在 2 周后疲劳显著减轻（平均差异[MD] 5.3，95%置信区间[CI] 4.5 至 6.2，p=0.05），在 6 周时接受针刺治疗的女性的幸福感显著改善与假针刺和等待名单对照组相比，MD 2.7，95%CI 2.1 至 3.2，p=0.006。女性对针刺治疗的体验描述为积极的，访谈数据也可能为幸福感改善的结果提供解释，女性报告睡眠、情绪和放松都有所改善。
疲劳是接受治疗后人们常见的症状，需要进行一项适当的研究来评估针刺的效果。
澳大利亚新西兰临床试验注册中心，www.anzctr.org.au ACTRN12610000720011。
