Acupressure for Cough in Lung Cancer Survivors

Summary

The goal of this randomized controlled trial is to examine the effect of an acupressure intervention in alleviating cough and reducing co-occurring symptoms (dyspnea, cough, and fatigue) in patients with lung cancer. The hypotheses are: 1. Acupressure can alleviate cough in lung cancer survivors; 2. Acupressure can reduce a cough-related symptom cluster (dyspnea-cough-fatigue) experienced by lung cancer survivors; 3. Acupressure can reduce the symptom burden and improve the health-related quality of life and functional capacity of lung cancer survivors experiencing cough. Participants will: Receive acupressure for 8 weeks or receive an education booklet; Keep a diary of their acupressure practice and symptoms; Be assessed at baseline (T0), early intervention (T1), post-intervention (T2), and 8 weeks after the intervention period (T3).

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

* be at least 18 years of age;
* have a diagnosis of LC at any stage and of any pathological type;
* have a cough symptom rating ≥3 on a 0 to 10 numeric rating scale within 7 days preceding enrollment;
* can perform acupressure independently in daily activities;
* be able to read Chinese and communicate in Cantonese or Mandarin;
* be able to provide informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

* have unstable chronic diseases other than LC;
* have received acupressure or acupuncture within the three months preceding study enrollment;
* have serious illnesses or other conditions that prevent the participants from following the intervention protocols;
* have a life expectancy of less than 3 months;
* Be currently participating in other research programs that may affect the outcomes under investigation.

Conditions6

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