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NCT03634527 · ClinicalTrials.gov registry record · NA
Auricular Point Acupressure: Examining the Scientific Underpinnings of Pain Relief
A NA study, sponsored by Johns Hopkins University.
- Terminated
- Registry status
- NA
- Development phase
- 15
- Enrollment target
NCT03634527: Clinical Trial NA study, sponsored by Johns Hopkins University.
NCT03634527 is a NA study that was terminated before completion, run by Johns Hopkins University. The registered enrollment target is 15 participants, below the 1,404-participant average among 58,714 other NA trials with a reported enrollment target (99% lower). According to ClinicalTrials.gov, the official US trial registry.
The verdict
NCT03634527, a NA study, was terminated before completion, sponsored by Johns Hopkins University.
- TERMINATED
- Registry status
- NA
- Development phase
- 15 participants
- Enrollment target
Study Summary
Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN)-numbness, burning and stunning pain distributed in hands and feet-is a major challenge among cancer patients. Even after completion of chemotherapy, CIPN persists among \~30-40% of cancer patients, which can negatively impact quality of life. The only drug (duloxetine) better than placebo in a randomized control trial improved pain intensity by 0.72 points on a scale of 0-10, which cannot manage CIPN effectively. A better pain management strategy clearly needs to be developed. The investigators propose to test auricular point acupressure (APA), a non-invasive, easily administered, patient-controlled, and non-pharmacological strategy, to provide rapid, safe, and effective pain relief so that cancer patients can self-manage their CIPN. APA involves an acupuncture-like stimulation of the ear without needles. With APA, small seeds are taped to specific ear points. The patient is taught to apply pressure to the seeds, with the thumb and index finger, three times a day (morning, noon, and evening) for three minutes each session to achieve pain relief. The investigators have developed a detailed APA protocol to teach health-care providers without experience in acupuncture and traditional Chinese Medicine that investigators can learn about APA in brief educational seminars as a treatment including the systematic identification of ear points (called auricular diagnosis). The investigators teach methods that enable patients to continue using APA to self-manage their pain. However APA is not available in current U.S. health care setting yet. Quantitative sensory testing (QST) and fMRI in acupuncture have provided new objective methods for measuring pain. QST provides an evaluation of peripheral and central mechanisms of pain by quantifying stimulus-evoked negative and positive sensory phenomena to evaluate a participant's perception of threshold values regarding pain generated through touch (A beta fibers), warmth (C fibers),
Primary Outcome
The Brief Pain Inventory-short form (BPI-sf) questionnaire includes assessment of pain location and multiple aspects of severity of pain, numbness, tingling, and stiffness, including worst, least, average pain, and present, as well as the interference with daily activities. The Brief Pain Inventory-short form (BPI-sf) has a total score ranging from 0 to 10 with higher scores indicating more pain.
Interventions
- BEHAVIORAL Auricular Point Acupressure
- BEHAVIORAL Control Auricular Point Acupressure-
Trial Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Enrollment Target | 15 participants |
| Start Date | 2018-02-15 |
| Est. Completion | 2019-01-30 |
| Phase | NA |
Why NCT03634527 stopped before completion
NCT03634527 is an interventional study that assigns participants to a tested intervention. The registry caps enrollment at 15 participants, a relatively small participant target, below the 1,404-participant average among 58,714 other NA trials with a reported enrollment target (99% lower).
The record links to 0 conditions, and to 2 interventions - of which Auricular Point Acupressure is the first listed.
NCT03634527 does not publish any study locations in the registry export this page uses.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is clinical trial NCT03634527 about?
NCT03634527 is a clinical study titled "Auricular Point Acupressure: Examining the Scientific Underpinnings of Pain Relief". Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN)-numbness, burning and stunning pain distributed in hands and feet-is a major challenge among cancer patients. Even after completion of chemotherapy, CIPN persists among \~30-40% of cancer patients, which can negatively impact quality of life. The onl...
What is the current status of trial NCT03634527?
This trial is currently terminated. It is a NA study. The enrollment target is 15 participants. The study started on 2018-02-15. Estimated completion is 2019-01-30.
What interventions are being tested in trial NCT03634527?
The interventions under investigation include: Auricular Point Acupressure (BEHAVIORAL), Control Auricular Point Acupressure- (BEHAVIORAL).
Who is sponsoring clinical trial NCT03634527?
This trial is sponsored by Johns Hopkins University, which has 1,448 total clinical trials registered on ClinicalTrials.gov.
Learn More About Clinical Trials
How this trial's enrollment target compares
Where NCT03634527's enrollment target sits among peer trials
15 1881st of 2000 higher than 92 of 2,000 other NA trials
participants (enrollment target), bucketed by value
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more other NA trials. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source ClinicalTrials.gov registry export · 2026-08-08
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