NCT06531551

The Effect of Acupressure on Patients Receiving Brachytherapy

"The Effect of Acupressure on Anxiety, Pain and Vital Signs in Gynecological Cancer Patients Receiving Brachytherapy: A Randomized Controlled Study"

• Status: Enrolling By Invitation
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 50 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Selcuk University · Academic / Other
• Sex: Female
• Age: 18 Years – 65 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

This study aimed to use acupressure to reduce anxiety in gynecologic cancer patients receiving brachytherapy. It was also aimed to investigate the effects of acupressure on anxiety, pain, and vital signs.

Detailed description

Brachytherapy is a type of radiotherapy used in cancer treatment. In this method, the radiation source is placed directly on the tumor or the area to be treated. In this way, high doses of radiation are applied only to the target area, while surrounding healthy tissues are less damaged. Brachytherapy is usually used in the treatment of certain types of cancer, such as prostate, cervix, breast, and skin cancer. Gynecological brachytherapy is the application of brachytherapy in the treatment of gynecological cancers. It can be used especially in cancers of the uterus, cervix, vagina, and vulva. This treatment method is performed by placing the radiation source in the area where the tumor is located. Brachytherapy can be used in combination with surgery, chemotherapy, or other types of radiotherapy in the treatment of these types of cancers. Factors such as cancer burden, the problem of achieving remission, and the need for patients to remain immobile during the procedure, which is performed in a room that needs to be isolated due to radiation, contribute to symptoms such as pain and anxiety before and during treatment. These symptoms can sometimes affect vital signs. The need for patients to remain immobile during brachytherapy, the need to be isolated in a room due to radiation, and the discomfort caused by the applicators also increase anxiety in women. Patients often experience fear and anxiety because there is insufficient information about brachytherapy that could help relieve their pain and anxiety. Despite the complexity of such a procedure and the significant patient population, there are few studies on women's experiences with brachytherapy.

Conditions

• Brachytherapy
• Complementary Approaches
• Gynecological Cancers

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	The group to which Acupressure will be applied in each fraction	Acupressure application protocol will be started after patient information. This process is planned to take 30 minutes.Before the application, approximately 20 seconds of warming and rubbing without direct pressure on the acupressure points will be performed to reduce tissue sensitivity and prepare the points for acupressure. Subsequently, the researcher will apply pressure with the thumb on the predetermined acupressure points, considering the individual's pain threshold, with 10 seconds of pressure followed by two seconds of relaxation without lifting the finger, in consecutive presses following the rhythm of breathing. A digital clock (belonging to the researcher) will be used to determine the duration of the acupressure application.

Timeline

• Start date: 2024-08-28
• Primary completion: 2024-09-15
• Completion: 2024-10-10
• First posted: 2024-08-01
• Last updated: 2024-08-01

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Turkey (Türkiye)