TY - JOUR
T1 - Evaluation of Group Acupuncture for Cancer-Related Symptoms
T2 - A Retrospective Analysis
AU - Tofthagen, Cindy
AU - Boses, Sarah
AU - Healy, Gene
AU - Jooma, Nuruddin
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© Copyright 2015, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. 2015.
PY - 2015/10/1
Y1 - 2015/10/1
N2 - Background: Acupuncture is being used for treatment of cancer-related symptoms in numerous settings, yet empirical evidence supporting the effects of acupuncture in this setting is lacking. Group acupuncture is an economical way to provide acupuncture to patients at a reduced cost. Objective: In this retrospective study we sought to evaluate the effects of group acupuncture on specific cancer-related symptoms in persons receiving outpatient cancer treatment. Methods: Patients were receiving group acupuncture treatments through an integrative oncology program in a large community oncology practice in west central Florida. A short patient-completed assessment of seven basic cancer-related symptoms using a 0-10 numeric rating scale was completed at each acupuncture treatment. Basic demographic information, including age, gender, race/ethnicity, and cancer type was obtained from the medical record. Paired sample t-tests were used to evaluate differences in symptoms before the first treatment and at the fourth treatment. Results: Fifty patients completed at least four weekly acupuncture treatments in 2014. Forty-three of them completed symptom assessments and were included in this analysis. The mean age of participants was 66.4 years. The majority of patients were white, non-Hispanic, and female. No significant improvement in symptoms were identified at the third treatment. At the time of the fourth group acupuncture, participants reported significantly less pain/numbness and problems with digestion. Discussion: The results of this study provide evidence to support the efficacy of group acupuncture for pain, neuropathy, and digestive problems in persons with cancer. A minimum of four weekly treatments may be necessary before improvements are noted. Limitations include a retrospective design, incomplete symptom evaluation, and possible response bias. Future studies of group acupuncture for cancer-related symptoms should utilize a prospective, controlled design, use validated measures to thoroughly evaluate targeted symptoms, and include a more racially and ethnically diverse sample.
AB - Background: Acupuncture is being used for treatment of cancer-related symptoms in numerous settings, yet empirical evidence supporting the effects of acupuncture in this setting is lacking. Group acupuncture is an economical way to provide acupuncture to patients at a reduced cost. Objective: In this retrospective study we sought to evaluate the effects of group acupuncture on specific cancer-related symptoms in persons receiving outpatient cancer treatment. Methods: Patients were receiving group acupuncture treatments through an integrative oncology program in a large community oncology practice in west central Florida. A short patient-completed assessment of seven basic cancer-related symptoms using a 0-10 numeric rating scale was completed at each acupuncture treatment. Basic demographic information, including age, gender, race/ethnicity, and cancer type was obtained from the medical record. Paired sample t-tests were used to evaluate differences in symptoms before the first treatment and at the fourth treatment. Results: Fifty patients completed at least four weekly acupuncture treatments in 2014. Forty-three of them completed symptom assessments and were included in this analysis. The mean age of participants was 66.4 years. The majority of patients were white, non-Hispanic, and female. No significant improvement in symptoms were identified at the third treatment. At the time of the fourth group acupuncture, participants reported significantly less pain/numbness and problems with digestion. Discussion: The results of this study provide evidence to support the efficacy of group acupuncture for pain, neuropathy, and digestive problems in persons with cancer. A minimum of four weekly treatments may be necessary before improvements are noted. Limitations include a retrospective design, incomplete symptom evaluation, and possible response bias. Future studies of group acupuncture for cancer-related symptoms should utilize a prospective, controlled design, use validated measures to thoroughly evaluate targeted symptoms, and include a more racially and ethnically diverse sample.
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U2 - 10.1089/jpm.2015.0143
DO - 10.1089/jpm.2015.0143
M3 - Article
C2 - 26218367
AN - SCOPUS:84943557788
SN - 1096-6218
VL - 18
SP - 878
EP - 880
JO - Journal of Palliative Medicine
JF - Journal of Palliative Medicine
IS - 10
ER -