Acupuncture in Cancer Patients Undergoing Radiotherapy Treatment

Feasibility randomized controlled trial of standard care v standard care + acupuncture administered by specially-trained therapy radiographers in patients undergoing radiotherapy. It is a feasibility study to investigate all aspects of a future definitive randomized controlled trial, including statistical power calculation, hence there is no primary outcome or time point.

Mixed methods: literature review, model validity, training and mentoring of radiographers, processes, resources, interventions, procedures, patient clinical outcomes, patient and stakeholder qualitative outcomes

The aim of the 'Acupuncture to improve quality of life and fatigue in cancer patients undergoing Radiotherapy Treatment' (ART) project is to investigate all aspects of the feasibility of undertaking clinical research on acupuncture with patients having radiotherapy at the University College Hospital (UCH) Cancer division.

The program includes an exploratory feasibility randomized controlled trial to investigate all aspects of a future definitive randomized controlled trial, including: organizational and procedural issues, patient group (including cancer diagnosis and stage), statistical power calculation, primary outcome measure and time point. It is NOT intended to deliver definitive results in terms of clinical outcomes.

ART aims to establish a platform for the investigation of integrating complementary therapy into cancer care, between the Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine (RLHIM) and the UCH cancer division. The development of a research project to investigate the use of acupuncture, a therapy not currently provided by the cancer division, to address the key concerns of cancer patients was the starting point. The intention is to evaluate the feasibility of such research, not to produce definitive results.

The greatest concerns of people with cancer include anxiety, fatigue, sleep problems and pain as a consequence of their disease and its treatment. Many patients find complementary therapies beneficial for these problems. UCH and RLHIM are both part of the University College London Hospital NHS Trust. The RLHIM is a specialist provider of complementary therapies, and offers treatment to cancer patients attending for radiotherapy and chemotherapy at UCH.

ART uses multiple methods, including a systematic review of the literature, model validity expert consensus, a novel therapy (acupuncture) and mode of delivery (specially trained health professionals already working in the radiotherapy department), and standard measures of outcome, culminating in a feasibility randomized controlled clinical trial.

The research program will evaluate all involved processes, resources, interventions and procedures. Outcomes measured included patient clinical outcomes, and the views of patients and stakeholders.

The research team comprises the Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine (RLHIM) research team, UCH Cancer Clinical Trials Unit (CCTU), a Steering Group including representatives of all interested parties including patients, an International Scientific Advisory Committee, an Acupuncture Expert Panel, with support from Quality Health Ltd.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Patients due to receive radical (curative) radiotherapy
* Patients of either gender and older than 16 years old.
* Patients with any cancer diagnosis.
* Patients willing to participate in the study and be randomised to one of the two treatment arms.
* Patients willing to attend at least 3 acupuncture treatments if assigned to the acupuncture intervention.
* Palliative patients.
* Patients unwilling to participate (for instance due to needle phobia).
* Patients currently receiving acupuncture.
* Patients with a platelet count \<20 000mm.
* Patients with a white blood cell count \<1000mm.
* Patients with severe clotting dysfunction or who bruise spontaneously.
* Patients unable to complete the questionnaires as judged by the investigators.

Exclusion Criteria:

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