Overview

The proposed study will employ a pragmatic mixed methods randomised parallel-group exploratory design to determine the feasibility of delivering self-acupuncture within an NHS cancer care setting. The trial will explore the feasibility and acceptability of all aspects of a definitive clinical trial of teaching cancer patients to self-administer acupuncture to alleviate symptoms of cancer and the side effects of conventional chemotherapy treatment. In addition the feasibility trial will provide preliminary data on effectiveness to inform the sample size calculation for a controlled clinical trial. Patients will be randomly allocated to receive either: 1) self-acupuncture in addition to standard care or 2) standard care alone. Participants randomised to the self-acupuncture arm will be asked to attend a 1.5 hour group workshop delivered by an experienced practitioners and teachers of self-acupuncture. Participants allocated to standard care will be offered training in self-acupuncture once the trial is complete to address any ongoing side effects from their cancer and its treatment. Patients will be recruited at the initiation of their chemotherapy cancer treatment from UCH Macmillan Cancer Centre. Participants will complete baseline outcome measures and be asked to complete follow up outcomes measures at the end of chemotherapy treatment, and 3 months post chemotherapy treatment. At the end of chemotherapy treatment participants will also be asked to take part in a qualitative telephone interview to explore their views on the design of the study and if allocated to self-acupuncture their views on the intervention. At 3 months post chemotherapy treatment those allocated to self-acupuncture will be invited to participate in a second qualitative interview to explore the long-term practice and effects of self-acupuncture. Qualitative interviews will also be conducted with stakeholders (acupuncturists delivering workshops and UCH Macmillan Cancer Centre staff) to explore their views on the feasibility of teaching cancer patients self-acupuncture.

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients due to receive radical (curative) intravenous chemotherapy (any chemotherapy regime).
• 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 the self-acupuncture workshop, and self-administer acupuncture, if assigned to the intervention.

Exclusion Criteria:

• 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.