RECRUITINGINTERVENTIONAL

Acupressure on Xerostomia in Head and Neck Cancer Patients

Effect of Self-administered Acupressure for Improving Xerostomia in Head and Neck Cancer Patients: a Randomized Controlled Trial

About This Trial

This is a randomized controlled trial aimed to1) examine the effect of a self-administered acupressure intervention on head and neck cancer patients with xerostomia (primary outcome) relative to oral health education control; 2) examine the effect of self-administered acupressure on secondary outcomes, including quality of life and severity of symptoms of head and neck cancer patients; 3) evaluate patients' expectancy of acupressure; 4) explore the acceptability of self-administered acupressure for head and neck cancer patients with xerostomia. Hypothesis: self-administered acupressure has better effect on xerostomia for head and neck cancer patients comparing to oral health education. Acupressure will also benefit head and neck cancer patients on quality of life and severity of symptoms. Head and neck cancer patients may have good acceptability of self-administered acupressure.

Who May Be Eligible (Plain English)

Who May Qualify: - age ≥18 years; - able to give willing to sign a consent form; - diagnosed with head and neck cancer (cancers in the head and neck region, e.g. oral cancer, nasopharyngeal cancer, oropharyngeal cancer, hypopharyngeal cancer, laryngeal cancer, sinus cancer, salivary gland cancer); - completed radiation therapy or chemoradiotherapy for at least 2 weeks; - complains of xerostomia after the treatment; - able to communicate in Cantonese or Mandarin. Who Should NOT Join This Trial: - history of xerostomia prior to head and neck cancer treatment (e.g., Sjögren Syndrome); - practiced acupressure or received acupuncture in the last 3 months; - having contraindications to acupressure, e.g. blood system disease (e.g., leukemia); pregnancy; lactating; upper or lower extremity deformities; infection or injuries at the acupoints. Those who are taking medications/alternative substances to treat xerostomia on a fixed dosage regimen in the past one month will not be excluded. \- Always talk to your doctor about whether this trial is right for you.

Original Eligibility Criteria

View original clinical language

Inclusion Criteria: * age ≥18 years; * able to give informed consent; * diagnosed with head and neck cancer (cancers in the head and neck region, e.g. oral cancer, nasopharyngeal cancer, oropharyngeal cancer, hypopharyngeal cancer, laryngeal cancer, sinus cancer, salivary gland cancer); * completed radiation therapy or chemoradiotherapy for at least 2 weeks; * complains of xerostomia after the treatment; * able to communicate in Cantonese or Mandarin. Exclusion Criteria: * history of xerostomia prior to head and neck cancer treatment (e.g., Sjögren Syndrome); * practiced acupressure or received acupuncture in the last 3 months; * having contraindications to acupressure, e.g. blood system disease (e.g., leukemia); pregnancy; lactating; upper or lower extremity deformities; infection or injuries at the acupoints. Those who are taking medications/alternative substances to treat xerostomia on a fixed dosage regimen in the past one month will not be excluded. \-

Treatments Being Tested

BEHAVIORAL

Self-administered acupressure

The participants should perform self-administered acupressure 12 weeks after training

OTHER

Oral health education

The participants should perform general oral care by themselves after the oral health education relating to xerostomia

Locations (1)

Queen Mary Hospital

Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong