Acupuncture versus massage for pain in patients living with advanced cancer: A protocol for the IMPACT randomised clinical trial Journal Article


Authors: Romero, S. A. D.; Emard, N.; Baser, R. E.; Panageas, K.; MacLeod, J.; Walker, D.; Barton-Burke, M.; Liou, K.; Deng, G.; Farrar, J.; Xiao, H.; Mao, J. J.; Epstein, A.
Article Title: Acupuncture versus massage for pain in patients living with advanced cancer: A protocol for the IMPACT randomised clinical trial
Abstract: Introduction Pain, comorbid fatigue and sleep disturbances are common and distressing symptoms for patients with advanced cancer, negatively impacting their quality of life. Clinical guidelines recommend non-pharmacological interventions, including acupuncture and massage, for pain management in adult patients with cancer in adjunct to conventional care. However, high-quality evidence about the comparative effectiveness and long-term durability of these therapies for symptom management is limited. Methods and analysis We describe the design of a two-arm, parallel group, multicentre randomised controlled trial that investigates the use of acupuncture versus massage for musculoskeletal pain among 300 patients with diverse types of advanced cancer. The primary aim is to evaluate the long-term effectiveness (26 weeks from randomisation) of acupuncture vs massage for pain (primary outcome) and comorbid symptoms (fatigue, sleep disturbance and quality of life). The secondary aim is to identify patient-level demographic characteristics (eg, sex, race, age), clinical factors (eg, insomnia, pain severity) and psychological attributes that are associated with a greater reduction in pain for either acupuncture or massage. Patients will receive weekly acupuncture or massage treatments for 10 weeks, followed by monthly booster sessions up to 26 weeks. The primary endpoint will be the change in worst pain intensity score from baseline to 26 weeks. We will collect validated patient-reported outcomes at multiple time points over 26 weeks. Ethics and dissemination The Institutional Review Board at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York approved this protocol. Results will be disseminated via peer-reviewed scientific journals and conference presentations. Our findings will help patients and healthcare providers make informed decisions about incorporating non-pharmacological treatments to manage pain for patients with advanced cancer. Trial registration number NCT04095234. ©
Keywords: adult; controlled study; major clinical study; fatigue; advanced cancer; cancer patient; outcome assessment; quality of life; randomized controlled trial; cancer pain; clinical protocol; age; insomnia; multicenter study; comorbidity; health care personnel; intermethod comparison; acupuncture; massage; parallel design; race; pain management; sex; complementary medicine; demographics; patient-reported outcome; pain intensity; human; male; female; article; pain severity
Journal Title: BMJ Open
Volume: 12
Issue: 9
ISSN: 2044-6055
Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.  
Date Published: 2022-09-01
Start Page: e058281
Language: English
DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-058281
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC9438082
PUBMED: 36581960
DOI/URL:
Notes: Jodi MacLeod and Desirée A.H. Walker are MSK patient advocates -- Source: Scopus
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MSK Authors
  1. Raymond E Baser
    133 Baser
  2. Han Xiao
    60 Xiao
  3. Gary E Deng
    77 Deng
  4. Andrew Saul Epstein
    157 Epstein
  5. Katherine S Panageas
    512 Panageas
  6. Jun J Mao
    244 Mao
  7. Kevin Liou
    41 Liou
  8. Nicholas Emard
    9 Emard